SAN ANTONIO, May 31 -- Sean Elliott's improbable balancing act somehow toppled the Portland Trail Blazers. Elliott tiptoed along the sideline and sank his sixth three-pointer with 9.9 seconds left today (Monday), giving the San Antonio Spurs a remarkable 86-85 victory over the Trail Blazers and a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals. With the Spurs trailing by two points, Elliott took an in-bounds pass along the right sideline that was almost intercepted by Stacey Augmon. Elliott nearly fell out of bounds and dribbled once before keeping his heels off the sideline and launching a three-pointer over the outstretched arm of 6-foot-11 Rasheed Wallace. 'I don't know how I did it,' Elliott said. The shot brought the Spurs all the way back from an 18-point second- half deficit and gave them their first lead of the game. They made it stand up as Jimmy Jackson had a shot blocked and Walt Williams missed a banker before time expired. Elliott scored 22 points, making 6 of 7 three-pointers. He was the only player making any outside shots for the Spurs, who barely escaped with their eighth straight playoff win and home-court advantage intact. 'I thought I had one more three left in me,' Elliott said. It was a crushing loss for the Trail Blazers, who led by eight points with less than two minutes to go. In four games at the Alamodome this season, Portland has lost by four points, twice by one point and in overtime.
'It took incredible shots to beat us,' Portland Coach Mike Dunleavy said. 'It seemed like we had that shot defended well when it was taken. I'd give him 100 bucks to see him make that shot again.' Game Three is Friday at Portland. The Trail Blazers are faced with having to beat the Spurs four times in the next five games, a tall order considering San Antonio has lost four times in its last 32 games. Portland may have lost more than a game. Starting shooting guard and leading scorer Isaiah Rider re-injured his sore right knee in the first quarter and sat for most of the final three periods. Rider suffered the injury in the first round against Phoenix. 'Right now we are just so sick and tired of losing to this team,' said Portland guard Damon Stoudamire, who missed a key free throw before Elliott's shot. 'They are a real thorn in our side. But this series is a long way from over and we still have a way to go.' Tim Duncan had 23 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks and David Robinson added 14, seven and three for the Spurs. Discounting the frontcourt starters, San Antonio made just 10 of 39 shots. Stoudamire had 15 points and seven assists for Portland. His ability to make jumpers opened the floor for the offense but he hurt the team with seven turnovers. Stoudamire fed Wallace for consecutive jumpers before making one of his own, giving Portland an 84-76 lead with 1:55 remaining. Avery Johnson made a jumper and Elliott hit a three-pointer, cutting the deficit to three points with 59 seconds left. Elliott started and ended a 17-2 third-quarter burst that pulled San Antonio within 54-51 with 5:27 left. Portland regrouped and rebuilt the lead to nine before Elliott closed the quarter with a short jumper, making it 67-60. Robinson made a steal that led to a pair of free throws by Mario Elie, making it 84-83 with 33 seconds left. Stoudamire missed a quick shot on the next possession but Williams got the offensive rebound and Stoudamire was fouled with 12 seconds to go, sinking 1 of 2 for a two- point edge. Elie scored 11 points and Johnson added 10 and seven assists for the Spurs, who hurt themselves by missing 10 of 25 free throws. Duncan was just 7 of 13 from the line. Arvydas Sabonis led Portland with 17 points but did not play in the fourth quarter. Wallace scored 13 points and Grant added 10 as both battled foul trouble. The Trail Blazers held a 27-6 edge in bench points but made just 2 of 7 from three-point range. Portland set an immediate tone that this would be different than Game One. The big men quickly asserted themselves in the post and on the glass as Grant scored three quick inside hoops. Three-point plays by Rider and Sabonis highlighted an 11-0 run that gave Portland a 21-10 lead with 4:23 left in the opening period. Sabonis, Grant and Wallace combined for 18 points in the first quarter, helping the Trail Blazers to a 31-20 advantage.