Playoffs results
NEW YORK (NBA) - Shawn Marion is in Team USA's 23-strong preliminary squad for the FIBA World Championship.
His performance for the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday suggests the Americans had better take 6ft 7in forward to Japan.
Marion scored six of his 36 points in the second overtime and added 20 rebounds as the Suns outlasted the visiting Los Angeles Clippers, 125-118, to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semi-finals.
"In that second overtime, we hit some tough shots," Marion said.
"Everybody was being aggressive and active on both ends of the floor. It is not about me. We go out there and help each other out and we have each other's backs."
In yet another thrilling overtime post-season game, the second-seeded Suns moved within one win of a return trip to the NBA's penultimate round. They blew a 19-point second-half lead and were rescued by Raja Bell, who drained a tying three-pointer with 1.1 seconds to play in the first overtime.
Matched up against the bigger Elton Brand for most of the game, Marion did most of the work inside for the Suns. He made 16 of 33 shots and helped Phoenix fight on the backboards.
And with most players nearing exhaustion in the second overtime, Marion still had a reserve of energy.
He opened the period with two free throws - Phoenix's first made foul shots since the second quarter - and added a flying follow dunk to give the Suns the lead for good at 115-113 with 3:20 remaining.
Marion appeared to hurt his ankle on the play but returned shortly thereafter. After a three-point play by Brand pulled the Clippers within 119-118 with 1:22 to go, Marion took a nifty pass from Steve Nash and made a running bank shot at the 1:05 mark.
The sixth-seeded Clippers never scored again as Leandro Barbosa, the Brazilian international, and Nash each sank two foul shots to seal it.
With Game Six in Los Angeles on Thursday, Los Angeles were one stop from going home with a 3-2 lead after a turnover by Nash led to two free throws by Sam Cassell that opened a 111-108 lead with 3.6 seconds left in OT.
Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy inserted little-used rookie Daniel Ewing.
Bell bolted to the left corner, took the inbounds pass and buried the tying shot, bringing a roar from the crowd at the US Airways Center.
Tim Thomas scored 25 points, Bell added 22 and Nash 17 and 13 assists for the Suns, who shot 46% (49 of 107), including 11 of 29 from the arc.
Thomas and Bell made five three-pointers each.
Brand, also in Team USA's preliminary squad, had 33 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks and Cassell scored 32 points for the Clippers, who shot 41% (42-of-103) but made nine of 20 three-pointers.
Wade fires heat into Conference finals
Dwyane Wade wasn't going to let Vince Carter shorten his postseason break.
Wade intercepted a pass for Carter as time expired, allowing the Miami Heat to hold on for a 106-105 victory over the visiting New Jersey Nets and reach the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight year.
Antoine Walker scored 23 points and Wade overcame a slow start to add 21 for the second-seeded Heat, who eliminated the third-seeded Nets in five games and await the winner of the Detroit-Cleveland series.
Walker and backup center Alonzo Mourning picked up the slack for Team USA's Wade and Shaquille O'Neal, who again was limited by foul trouble and scored 17 points.
A year ago, Miami lost in seven games to Detroit as Wade tried to play through a painful rib injury.
Wade has taken some terrific tumbles in this year's play-offs but the superstar guard is relatively healthy and will have at least a week off before the next series.
"We get to rest a little but then bring it on," Wade said.
"It's a nice feeling knowing you're the first team (in the conference finals) and can watch everyone else try to get in."
PA Sport