2007 NBA West Semis Game 6 Phoenix Suns at San Antonio Spurs, May 18, 2007, Alleged Tim Donaghy Fix

2007 NBA West Semis Game 6 Phoenix Suns at San Antonio Spurs, May 18, 2007, Alleged Tim Donaghy Fix

PHO 106, SAS 114 – In Game 6 of the 2007 NBA Western Conference Semifinals, held on May 18 in San Antonio, the Spurs clinched their spot in the Conference Finals with a 114-106 victory over the Phoenix Suns. The Suns, initially keeping pace with the Spurs and trailing narrowly 53-51 at halftime, hoped to force a decisive Game 7 back in Phoenix. However, the Spurs exploded in the third quarter, building a lead as large as 20 points. Despite a late-game surge from the Suns, led by Amare Stoudemire’s impressive 38 points and 12 rebounds, the Spurs managed to hold on for the win.

Player of the game:
Manu Ginobili: 33 PTS, 11-17 FGM, 65 FG%, 4-7 3PM, 7-9 FTM, 11 REB, 6 AST, 4 AST

Notable performance:
Amare Stoudamire: 38 PTS, 14-28 FGM, 50 FG%, 9-10 FTM, 12 REB, 4 BLK

Manu Ginobili was the standout player of the game, scoring 33 points on 65% shooting, including 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. His all-around performance, which also featured 11 rebounds and 6 assists, was instrumental in securing the victory for San Antonio. The game highlighted Ginobili’s clutch shooting and playmaking abilities, contributing significantly to the Spurs’ triumph.

The series later became infamous due to controversy surrounding referee Tim Donaghy, who was implicated in a betting scandal that emerged after the playoffs. Donaghy admitted to poor officiating throughout the series and claimed that his supervisor, Tommy Nuñez, had a bias against Suns owner Robert Sarver and a preference for San Antonio, which he alleged influenced the outcome of the games. This scandal cast a shadow over the series, impacting its historical legacy.