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Admiral ailing Veteran center hurt knee at end of Game 1Posted: Sunday April 20, 2003 5:33 PMUpdated: Sunday April 20, 2003 6:19 PM SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- David Robinson had a big game in the playoff opener against Phoenix. He might not have the chance to follow up on his performance in Game 2. Robinson twisted his left knee when he drew an offensive foul on Stephon Marbury late in the Spurs' 96-95 overtime loss Saturday. He is listed as questionable for Monday night's game in the best-of-seven series. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich wouldn't talk about Robinson's status Sunday. He said his team's confidence is the most important factor. "We've got to have the emotion and the same aggressiveness and the same defense -- it's all got to be there," he said. "If that's not there, we'll have a problem." The 7-foot-1 center benefited from the constant double- and triple-teaming on Tim Duncan and went 8-for-8 for 18 points Saturday. "People think he can't play," said Phoenix guard Penny Hardaway, who scored 11 points before fouling out late in regulation. "He can play. He's done it all in this league. Whether Robinson plays or not, the Spurs need to stop Marbury and make their free throws to have a chance to win. The top-seeded Spurs faltered on both in the opener and lost when Marbury banked in a 3-pointer at the overtime buzzer after Duncan missed three free throws in the closing seconds. Marbury was largely held in check by Spurs point guard Tony Parker in the first half, when San Antonio built a double-digit lead, but he broke loose for 17 of his 26 points in the second half. "I heard a quote from Tim Duncan where he said, 'We allowed them guys to stay around,"' Marbury said. "By allowing us to stay around, it allowed us to win the game. That's all we want on the road." Parker said he is more worried about his offense for Game 2 and beyond. "Me, Jack and Manu just have to make outside shots, and we're going to win the series," Parker said, mentioning teammates Stephen Jackson and Manu Ginobili. "If me, Jack and Manu keep missing 3s and wide-open shots, we're going to lose." Parker and Ginobili combined to go 4-for-21 from the field, including 2-for-13 on 3-pointers, while Jackson was 7-for-17. The eighth-seeded Suns will try to position themselves to win another game at the SBC Center before heading home to Phoenix for Game 3 on Friday night. "We're going to go out and play the game like it's our last," Marbury said. "If they don't win the next one, that's going to put a lot of pressure on their team." The Spurs will play Game 2 without reserve center Kevin Willis, who was suspended by the NBA for one game for his flagrant foul against Suns center Scott Williams in Game 1. Willis, going for a defensive rebound, hit Williams with a hard elbow to the throat just before halftime and was immediately ejected.
The Suns said initially that Williams sprained his neck and
would not return, but he was back on the court early in the third
quarter.
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