By Paul Levine May 3, 2006, 16:49 GMT
Los Angeles - After two exasperating games, Manu Ginobili bounced back in a big way.
San Antonio Spurs guard Brent Barry (R) points upward after hitting a key three pointer in the second half of game 5 as San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (L), of Argentina, cheers in the background of the NBA Western Conference first round playoff game between the Sacramento Kings vs. San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas Tuesday, 02 May 2006. San Antonio won 109-98 to take a 3-2 lead in the best of seven series. EPA/AARON M. SPRECHER
Ginobili scored 13 of 27 points in the fourth quarter and the Spurs pulled away from the pesky Sacramento Kings for a 109-98 victory on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the opening round of their Western Conference best-of-seven game playoff series.
Ginobili was held to just 11 points, including three in game four in two weekend losses at Sacramento. But the unrelenting Argentine connected on 9-of-14 field goals, made all eight free throws and pulled down nine rebounds, giving the defending champions the all- important swing game.
'I was too frustrated,' he said of games three and four. 'I just tried to forget everything, play with more calm, and let things come to me. It made the game easier.'
'He's that kind of competitor, he takes the challenge upon himself,' said Spurs Tim Duncan, who had 24 points and nine rebounds. 'He learned from the last two games. He came out here, and wanted to attack these guys and settle for nothing less. He was incredible tonight.'
Frenchman Tony Parker scored 21 points and Bruce Bowen finished with 16 for San Antonio, which can close out the series Friday night at Sacramento.
Bonzi Wells led Sacramento with 38 points and 12 rebounds, while Ron Artest added 24.
'We tied the game with three minutes to go but didn't do what we needed to do to win down the stretch,' Kings coach Rick Adelman said. 'We couldn't get stops.'
With the game knotted at 93, the Spurs went ahead for good on layups by Duncan and Bowen. After Wells hit a layup, Parker hit Ginobili at the other end with 90 seconds remaining.
Wells split a pair of free throws, but Duncan hit a short jumper with a minute left, giving the Spurs a 101-96 advantage. Michael Finley hit two free throws and Ginobili added six more to seal the win.
Elsewhere:
Phoenix Suns 114, LA Lakers 97:
Frenchman Boris Diaw had 25 points, along with 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Suns burned the Lakers to avoid elimination in their Western Conference playoff series.
The Lakers still lead the best of seven series 3-2 with game six Thursday night in Los Angeles.
Steve Nash scored 22 points and Shawn Marion 21 for the Suns, which had dropped the last three games. Raja Bell finished with 11 points but was whistled for his second technical and ejected with 7:33 left after throwing Kobe Bryant to the floor.
'It's been a pretty physical series and I kind of lost my head,' Bell said. 'It was a bad play on my part it. In the heat of the moment I over-reacted.'
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 29 points, and was also tossed with 3:11 left, after receiving his second technical foul for arguing with officials. Lamar Odom had 18 points and 15 rebounds.
Miami Heat 92, Chicago Bulls 78:
Gritty Dwyane Wade scored 15 of his 28 points in the second half after returning from a bruised left hip, sparking the Heat to a 3-2 lead in the opening round of their Eastern Conference playoff series.
Antoine Walker scored 17 points and foul-plagued Shaquille O'Neal had 16 and 10 rebounds for Miami, which can nail down the series Thursday night at Chicago.
Argentine Andres Nocioni had 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Michael Sweetney added a playoff career-high 16 points for Chicago, which shot an icy 35 per cent from the floor.
With 2:35 left before halftime, Wade elevated on a drive to the basket, but collided with Sweetney, sending the Heat All-Star crashing to the floor in pain. He was helped to the locker room where he was treated.
Wade returned midway through the third quarter with Miami trailing 55-50. He scored 12 points in a 25-9 surge to put the Heat ahead 75- 64 with 6:25 left.
'I didn't know how effective I would be because I couldn't put any pressure, I couldn't feel no part of it,' Wade said. 'But I knew that I would try.'
The Bulls pulled to 77-73 but Wade and James Posey hit back-to- back three-pointers in a game closing 15-0 run.
New Jersey Nets 92, Indiana Pacers 86:
Vince Carter scored 34 points, including a high-flying, game- sealing dunk with 29 seconds remaining, and grabbed 15 rebounds, to give the Nets a 3-2 lead over the Pacer in the opening round of their Eastern Conference series.
Richard Jefferson netted 24 points for New Jersey, which can wrap up the series Thursday night at Indiana. Nenad Krstic had 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Jason Kidd set a playoff franchise-record with 15 assists.
Jermaine O'Neal led Indiana with 19 points.
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