Suns win as series takes a nasty turn

The Phoenix Suns' 12-1 run to end Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals gave them a 104-98 victory last night at San Antonio that evened the series with the Spurs, 2-2.

The tension that has been building between the teams throughout nearly boiled over with 18 seconds to play.

The Suns, who trailed by as many as 11 points, had taken the lead for the first time in the second half on consecutive behind-the-back feeds from Steve Nash to Amare Stoudemire that made it 100-97 with 32 seconds to play.

As Nash started to bring the ball up the court after Manu Ginobili missed the Spurs' fourth straight shot, San Antonio's Robert Horry hit him with a forearm that knocked him into the scorers' table and had players from both teams rushing to the scene.

Phoenix's Raja Bell tried to get at Horry as did Nash after he jumped to his feet.

Horry was given a flagrant foul and was ejected. Bell was given a technical foul. A free throw by each team made it 101-98. The Suns kept possession and Nash added another free throw with 16 seconds to go.

"He just body checked me out of bounds," Nash said. "I understand he's frustrated, it happens, but he did body check me."

Stoudemire led the Suns with 26 points, while Nash had 24 points and 15 assists.

Cavaliers 87, Nets 85 -- LeBron James had 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, and host Cleveland moved within a win of reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 15 years by beating host New Jersey in Game 4.