Spurs Toy With Kings, Prevail in Overtime

Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Martin (23) is defended by San Antonio Spurs center Nazr Mohammed (2) during the first quarter of their Western Conference playoff game in NBA basketball action in San Antonio, Tuesday, April 25, 2006. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (Eric Gay - AP)

SAN ANTONIO -- Maybe the Sacramento Kings would've preferred being blown out again over what the San Antonio Spurs did to them Tuesday night.

Dominant early and resilient late, the Kings were forced into overtime by a 3-pointer from Brent Barry that hit the rim twice, went high and fell through with 4 seconds left in regulation.

Then Manu Ginobili carried the defending champions to a 128-119 victory in Game 2 of their first-round series.

Game 3 is Friday night in Sacramento. With so many days off, Kings fans might start wondering whether the Spurs could possibly find another way to break their hearts.

San Antonio had its way with Sacramento in the opener, breaking things open in the second quarter and winning by 34. Perhaps thinking this one would be just as easy, especially with Kings forward Ron Artest serving a one-game suspension, the Spurs came out flat and were down by five at halftime.

Although San Antonio snapped out of it and went up by 10 in the third quarter, Bonzi Wells, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Artest's replacement, Kevin Martin, refused to let Sacramento go away.

Led in the fourth quarter by Abdur-Rahim, the Kings were up 106-103 with under a minute left.

After Michael Finley hit a long jumper to get San Antonio within a point, Wells and Ginobili each went 1-of-2 at the foul line, leaving the Kings up 107-106 with 17 seconds to play. Martin upped it to 109-106 with a pair of free throws.

With the Spurs down to their last chance, Ginobili drove the lane and found Barry wide open in the right corner. His shot hit the far inside of the rim, came back to the front inside, flew straight up and dropped right down for a tie.

Abdur-Rahim took Sacramento's final shot of regulation, a longer jumper than he would've liked that missed wide.

Mike Bibby, who was 1-of-13 through four quarters, opened overtime with two jumpers that left the Kings ahead 113-112. But Ginobili was already starting to take over.

In a brief span, he eluded Martin for a layup off an inbounds pass, stole the ball from Bibby and started a fast break that ended with a layup by Parker, then drew a foul on Bibby while putting up a 3-pointer. He made all three shots for a 117-114 lead halfway through the extra 5-minute period. Sacramento never got any closer.