Tim Duncan collected 24 points and Manu Ginobili had 33 points and 11 rebounds as San Antonio advanced to NBA semi-finals with a 114-106 win over Phoenix in Game Six of their playoff series on Friday.
Tony Parker added 30 points for third-seeded San Antonio, which now will face No. 4 Utah with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.
The Spurs, who have won three titles since 1999, will be making their first trip to the championship series since hoisting the trophy in 2005.
Game One of the Finals will be in San Antonio today.
But in a series rife with controversy, the clinching game was not easy. The Suns, who trailed by as many as 20 in the fourth quarter, did not go down without a fight.
Phoenix attempted a furious comeback in the final period -- outscoring the Spurs, 39-33, in the fourth -- but fell short as they could not string together enough quality defensive possessions down the stretch.
After converting one field goal in the first quarter, Suns guard Steve Nash did not score again until the 8:18 mark in the fourth. But that hoop was the start of 10 straight Phoenix points by the two-time MVP, who capped his personal run with a short jumper in the lane to make it 96-82 with 6:06 left.
Phoenix got as close 106-101 on Shawn Marion's follow jam with 34 seconds left, but it was too little, too late.
It was the final in a series of disappointing losses for Phoenix in the best-of-seven matchup.
In fact, if it were not for untimely injuries and suspensions, San Antonio still might be fighting for its playoff lives.
After a stirring Game Four victory on the road, the Suns were in the unenviable position of playing a pivotal Game Five at home without two of their key performers, including Amare Stoudemire -- a member of the All-NBA first team.
Stoudemire and Boris Diaw were suspended for Wednesday's contest for leaving the bench during a scuffle late in the previous game.
Spurs forward Robert Horry committed a cheap shot that sent Steve Nash sprawling into the scorer's table.
Horry then scuffled with Suns guard Raja Bell, resulting in a two-game suspension for the 15-year veteran.
Back at home on Friday, San Antonio held just a two-point lead at halftime but came out with a point to prove in the third quarter, outscoring Phoenix, 28-16, in the third quarter.
Duncan was 11-of-19 from the field, Parker shot 11-of-27 and Ginobili was 11-of-17 for the game.
Stoudemire collected 38 points and 12 rebounds and Nash added 18 and 14 assists for Phoenix, which lost in the conference finals the last two seasons and fell further short of its championship goal this campaign.
AFP, EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey
LeBron James collected 23 points, eight rebounds as Cleveland advanced to the NBA semi-finals with an 88-72 win over New Jersey in game six of their playoff series on Friday.
"I'm the leader of this team," James said. "This is a big win for us. We picked it up in the fourth and got the job done."
Donyell Marshall scored nine of his 18 points in the fourth quarter for Cleveland, which lost to Detroit in seven games in their second-round matchup last season.
But this time around, a trip the NBA Finals will be up for grabs in a meeting between the East's top two seeds.
But before securing their appointment with the Pistons, the Cavaliers needed to eliminate a feisty Nets squad.
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