Spurs won't be denied, top Suns in OT to snap losing streak: 108-122.

A collective strength got the Spurs a win tonight. It was the home crowd's energy, it was Joakim Noah's furious effort, it was Iman Shumpert stealing inbound passes, it was Patty Mills from long range that got San Antonio back to its winning ways after a painful five-game drought.

Plays made in this game made it a three-point deficit instead of a six-point hole, then deflecting another pass, mucking things up and making it a difficult time for the visitors from Phoenix. Defying the defense to score on the fast break time and time again kept the Spurs within striking distance as the 4th Quarter clocked ticked down. At that point, there had been eleven lead changes, five ties, and the high mark of an eight point lead by the Suns.

A confident-looking stroke by Patty Mills behind that line finally gave the Spurs a two-point lead (84-82) pulling up over Devin Booker. Nothing easy came for Phoenix, a foul here, free throws there...a close-out on a corner wing 3PTer and then some. Even Booker had trouble getting free for a good look late as the San Antonio defense tried its best to keep Phoenix scoreless.

A drive by Joakim Noah notched it again at 86, then a no-look pass by Kawhi Leonard to Patty Mills caused the 3PT bomb to the crowd's approval, 89-San Antonio. A new dynamic ensued, as the Spurs merely sought to hold onto the newfound lead, with Phoenix sticking close too long for Coach Popovich's taste: "Well, we couldn't beat 'em! They played one hell of a game. Somehow, someway, we got the job done, and now I can go to sleep! Geez!"

All jokes aside, Coach Pop must be happy with the win.

Another 3PTer by Patty Mills courtesy of a screen by Noah gave the Spurs a 3PT hold over Phoenix again, turning into a five-point edge after Leonard poked the ball free from Booker for the easy highlight dunk on the other end. Phoenix would not surrender yet, though, tying the game on Booker's 3PTer, which led to Kawhi missing at the buzzer as the ball just wouldn't go in on his layup attempt.

The extra period got underway with a miss by Phoenix, then a corner 3PTer by Leonard on the fast break off a Mills pass. The Mills/Leonard double-team on Booker knocked the ball loose again for a second 3PTer, this time by Avery Bradley after a nice pass by Dejounte Murray. Trevor Ariza's three-ball cut it close once more, but then Murray's dish to a streaking Rudy Gay for the dunk got the lead back up to five with two minutes left. An interception by Gay followed on the inbound, who faked a step-back jumper into a pass out to Leonard for another 3PT dagger (114-106, SA). Ariza would make a pull-up down low, but then Murray's stroke from deep would make it 117-108 with 45 seconds to go, an insurmountable gap, and then Rudy Gay would add some insult to injury with an and-one layup and a clutch 3PTer under duress that bounced in.

The Spurs won OT, 19-5, with the whole game separated by only twelve points prior to the extra period. Kawhi Leonard had 32 points with 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks. He made four shots from deep and went 12-21. Joakim Noah was the driving force with 20 points and 13 rebounds, swatting one shot and grabbing one steal. Rudy Gay played well with 17 points and 6 rebounds, as well as 3 blocks on 7-12 shooting. Patty Mills had 13 points with 8 assists, making a trio of threes. Bradley had 15 points, coming in during the clutch with four shots from long range. Dejounte Murray gave a promising performance with 11 points and 10 assists.

In the narrow defeat, the Suns were led by Trevor Ariza's 18 points and Josh Jackson's 17. #1 pick, DeAndre Ayton had 16 points with 15 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. Devin Booker had a tough night with just 15 points, managing 10 assists as Phoenix still struggles to fill its point guard position, coming one rebound shy of a triple-double, but with four turnovers. TJ Warren had 14 points.

San Antonio out-shot Phoenix, which is no small task, both overall and from long range, dominating the paint 62-50 and the fast break 18-14, nabbing more steals and more blocks as a unit and less turnovers. They were also more aggressive, earning more shots at the free throw line. A hearty win for the Spurs, they hope to be "back" now to their winning ways, trying to find a level of consistency with their talented roster.