Mohammed powers Spurs past Suns

Tim Duncan also posted a double-double with 20 points and 13 boards while Manu Ginobili donated 14 points and five assists for the Spurs, who have won three in a row and remain a half-game behind Dallas in the Southwest Division.

Duncan also had seven assists in the contest, and Tony Parker and Michael Finley chipped in 13 points apiece.

Steve Nash sprang for 30 points and also dished out six assists for Phoenix, which remains comfortably ahead in the Pacific and would be the second seed in the playoffs if the season ended today.

Shawn Marion finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Boris Diaw netted 15 points.

The Spurs trailed 56-55 at halftime, but outscored the Suns 27-22 in the third to assume a four-point advantage entering the final 12 minutes.

The game remained close down the stretch, with Phoenix pulling within two, 94-92, following a three-point play by Nash with 5:26 remaining.

Parker responded with a jumper at the other end, however, and Mohammed followed with a layup to extend the Spurs’ edge back to six.

A Nash layup and a Diaw free throw cut the Suns’ deficit to three at 98-95, but they would get no closer. Parker helped provide the answer again, nailing back-to-back jumpers to make it 102-95 with under two minutes to play.

Mohammed and Duncan added buckets down the stretch to help seal it.

Game Notes

San Antonio took three out of four from the Suns in the season series...Phoenix has lost five straight and 10 of its last 11 at San Antonio...The Spurs are an impressive 29-4 as the host this season...The Suns are 19-11 on the road.