Understaffed Suns Set Just Short of Victory

The Phoenix Suns, minus their two best big men, squandered their home-court advantage last night, dropping game 5 of a hotly contested playoff to the Spurs, 88-85. Serial gamemakers Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw sat the game out on a controversial suspension for leaving their bench out of turn in game 4.

Phoenix blew a 44-33 lead at the half, an advantage they maintained until the final 36 seconds, when the villified Bruce Bowen scored a game-tying 3. San Antonio sank a meager third of their shots in the first half, but floated ahead on a strong endgame from Manu Ginobili, who made three treys in a row. Game 6 is in Alamo country Friday night. (More NBA playoffs stories.)