For the first time in this NBA best-of-seven first-round series, it was clear which team had earned the top seed in the Western Conference.

The San Antonio Spurs built a large first-half lead and held on to beat the Phoenix Suns, 94-82, tonight before 19,217 at SBC Center and take a 3-2 lead in the series.

Had there been time to consider options, it is not clear where Jake Voskuhl would have fallen on the Phoenix Suns' list. If such selections could be made as when thumbing buttons on a video game, Voskuhl likely would not have popped up at all as a choice to take the last shot.

But there he was with the ball Sunday night, the game and quite possibly the Suns' season in his hands. And for all the high-priced and celebrated offensive talent that surrounds him, he might have been the best choice of all.

He alone among the Suns had been there before.

Throughout the season, Stephon Marbury has been asked to figuratively take the Suns on his shoulders and carry them.

The question now is whether Marbury's shoulders are literally strong enough if the Suns need him to carry the load tonight at the SBC Center in Game 5 of their best-of-seven first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs.

Pressure can be the great unknown.

It can dry the mouth and dampen the hands. It can make the mind go blank and the heart go bounce.

It can make a Goliath of a basketball team look very vulnerable.

Johnny Ludden of the San Antonio Express News reports that Stephon Marbury's right arm went numb after Malik Rose set a pick on Stephon Marbury in the second half of Game 4 of the San Antonio-Phoenix series.

Marbury lay on the court in what seemed to be agonizing pain, but was able to return to the game shortly after.

"Every time I hit it, I get a stinger," Marbury said. "My arm just tingles and then it goes numb. Tonight I thought I had a broken wrist because I couldn't break my fall when I fell. I couldn't feel anything and I couldn't shoot.

"It feels much better now. I'll be ready to play in Game 5. I wanted the last shot, but at the same time I knew I wasn't going to take a jump shot because I couldn't shoot."

Johnny Ludden of the San Antonio Express-News reports that Spurs center David Robinson's knee is doing fine after playing 25 minutes in Game 2 of their series with the Phoenix Suns.

Robinson injured his knee, partially tearing some cartilage, during the first game of the series in San Antonio.

"Hopefully, as the days go on, I'll continue to get better," Robinson said. "I actually feel very good. (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich) has done a great job of managing my minutes. I'm very fresh. If it weren't for that little freak knee injury, I'd be feeling 100 percent."

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle and Norm Frauenheim of the Arizona Republic report: It was a close race but somebody had to win it. Later today, Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire will be announced as the winner of the NBA?s Rookie of the Year award.

Sources within the Suns' front office confirmed that Stoudemire had won the award in voting by the media.

Yao Ming figured out that Stoudemire had won when the presentation was announced and he wasn?t invited.

Being a good sport, he passed along his congratulations to Stoudemire.

"Congratulations to Amare," Yao said. "This is just the start of many years (of competition between them) to come."

Stoudemire averaged 13.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocked shots, one assist per game and shot 47.2 and 66.1 percent from the field and from the free-throw line respectively.

 Stoudemire is the 51st player to win the award and the third to win it with the Suns. Alvan Adams won it in 1976. Walter Davis won it in 1978.

The 20-year-old forward is the only winner of the award to come straight from high school.

As for his reaction, he is more concerned Phoenix?s first round series with the San Antonio Spurs.

 "It's just kind of unbelievable to be getting ready for the playoffs when just a year ago I was getting ready to go to the prom," said Stoudemire.

Johnny Ludden of the San Antonio Express-News reports that David Robinson is optimistic about a return to the court, possibly as soon as Friday.

Robinson has a partially torn left medial meniscus, which he suffered in Game 1.

Right now Robinson is listed as day-to-day for Game 3.

"I'm hoping I'll be ready by Friday ? and all indications are probably I will be," Robinson said. "Today it's just very disappointing. I felt very good coming into the playoffs. I thought I was going to have a great playoff run, and I still do. This is a little bit of a setback. I didn't expect this."

With Robinson set to retire at the end of the season, he has more incentive to get back out on the court as soon as possible.

"I want to get back out there fast," Robinson said. "This being a playoff situation, I would probably be inclined to play with a lot more discomfort. I don't have a choice (now), but when it comes to being my choice, there's no question I'll be out there."

The Spurs are unhappy with the timing, but know it is out of their hands.

"(Sunday) at practice, he was limping a little bit," Malik Rose said. "But I didn't think he did anything significant. The timing is unfortunate."

"I'm disappointed, but life isn't fair," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "It's something we can't worry about."

Robinson says this is just another challenge for the Spurs.

"This is part of the challenge of trying to be champions," Robinson said. "You become champions because you overcome some things."

Johnny Ludden of the San Antonio Express-News reports: Tonight, as the San Antonio Spurs go against the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of their first round series, their frontline will be a little thin.

The Spurs, who are down 1-0 in the best-of-seven series after a devastating loss on Saturday, will be without Kevin Willis and most likely David Robinson.

Willis got suspended for tonight?s game after elbowing Phoenix center Scott Williams in the throat toward the end of the second quarter of Saturday's game. Willis was given a flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the game.

Players normally receive an automatic one-game suspension after they accumulate three flagrant points in the playoffs. Willis received two flagrant points for the foul, but NBA officials suspended him because he hit Williams above the neck.

Robinson is doubtful after banging his knee taking a fourth-quarter charge from Stephon Marbury.

Robinson?s knee stiffened as the game continued. He underwent an MRI on Sunday afternoon and was given a therapeutic injection. He will be evaluated this morning, but team officials do not expect him to play.

Malik Rose is expected to start in Robinson?s place.

With the injuries, the Spurs know they need to come up big tonight or risk going down 2-0 in the series.

"We can't be scared just because we lose one," guard Tony Parker said. "It was a big win for Phoenix. Now we have to concentrate. Me, (Stephen Jackson) and Manu (Ginobili) are ready to take that challenge."

Associated Press reports.  Stephon Marbury left the crowd at the SBC Center in stunned silence. Marbury banked in a 3-pointer at the overtime buzzer as the Phoenix Suns shocked the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs, 96-95, in the opener of their Western Conference first round series.

Tim Duncan gave the Suns a chance by missing 3-of-4 free throws in the final moments, including a pair with 5.1 seconds to go.