The highly anticipated first-round playoff match up between the Phoenix Suns and the Sun Antonio Spurs started yesterday with a sensational first game.

The Spurs won 117 - 115, after a double overtime game, on a lay-up made by Manu Ginobili with 1.8 seconds left in the second overtime. San Antonio’s sixth man had a great game and confirmed his importance to the squad.

At the end of the first extra period, Tim Duncan shot his first 3-pointer of the season and forced the game into the second overtime. “I had all the time in the world to line it up,” said Duncan according to the New York Times. “I just threw it up there and hoped for the best,” he added. He finished the game with 16 out of 24 from the field, with 40 points, and also had 15 rebounds.

Phoenix’s power-forward Amare Stoudemire had 33 points and could have made the difference at the end, if he had not been fouled out in the first overtime.

In the second overtime, with 15,7 seconds left in the game, Steve Nash managed to hit a high-arching 3-pointer and tied the game at 115 – 115. The Spurs did not call a timeout and with the game on the line, Ginobili stepped up and took the winning shot.

The finish found starter point-guard Tony Parker on the bench, also fouled out in the fourth overtime.

Even though the Suns expected to win, their morale is still up, with the team describing the game as a good one. Stoudemire displayed a very positive attitude, saying: “I still feel like we are in really good shape. This is going to be a long series,” as quoted by the NY Times.