Spurs eliminate Suns in five

PHOENIX -- The San Antonio Spurs no longer have to worry about being on the wrong side of playoff history -- or about facing Amare Stoudemire.

All they have to think about now is trying to win another NBA championship.

Tim Duncan had 31 points and 15 rebounds and the Spurs' defense keyed a game-changing 18-4 third-quarter run, giving them enough of a cushion to hold off Stoudemire and the Phoenix Suns with a 101-95 victory Wednesday night that ended the Western Conference finals in five games.

As thrilled as the Spurs are about making the Finals for the second time in three years, and third in seven, they're likely also relieved to be done with this series -- and Stoudemire, who scored 42 points Wednesday.

San Antonio led 3-0 before losing Game 4 at home and certainly didn't want to go home for a Game 6 with the Suns halfway to pulling off a comeback that's unprecedented in NBA history.

The victory gives Duncan's aching ankles and Manu Ginobili's bumps and bruises plenty of time to heal while San Antonio waits to find out whether it will next face Miami or Detroit. The Heat and Pistons are tied 2-2 with Game 5 tonight in Miami. The final round will start June 9, and the Spurs, who won it all in 1999 and 2003, will be the home team regardless.