The NBA has rejected the Suns' bid to save Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw, or to perhaps remove Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen from the Game 5 equation as well.

The Suns made sure that NBA decision-makers were aware that the Spurs? Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen left the bench in Game 4 of their Western Conference playoff series when teammate Francisco Elson dunked early in the third quarter and hung on the rim, only to have the Suns? James Jones inadvertently undercut him as he headed up court.

According to the Suns, Duncan jumped off the bench and walked onto the court with Bowen following him to get him back on the bench.

This was different, NBA vice president Stu Jackson said. Duncan ?should not have been on the court,? he said. But, ?There was no altercation.?