PHOENIX (Ticker) -- On the brink of elimination, the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs hope to force a decisive game in their first-round Western Conference playoff series tonight when they meet the Phoenix Suns in Game 4.

Todd Day scored all 16 of his points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:19 remaining, as the Suns pushed took a 2-1 series lead over the Spurs with a 101-94 victory in Game 3 on Saturday.

"I looked at (Saturday) as a breakout game for me," Day said. "I didn't think I was going to get 16, but I felt I was going to get minutes tonight and I wanted to prove to everyone else that I deserved the minutes. This team is so talented a guy like me is left by the wayside."

After averaging only 71 points in the first two games of the series at San Antonio, Phoenix broke out at home and can advance to the conference semifinals for the first time since 1995 with a win tonight.

	SEASON SERIES
	Jan. 7 Feb. 21	San Antonio 102, at Phoenix 83 Phoenix 98, at San Antonio 89

The Spurs did not face this type of pressure during their 15-2 run to last year's title. But they will likely be without injured superstar forward Tim Duncan (knee), the 1999 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, for the fourth straight game and are in danger of becoming the first defending champ since the Philadelphia 76ers in 1984 to make a first-round exit.

With a loss tonight, San Antonio will also become the first NBA champion not to repeat since the 1986 Boston Celtics.

"A lot of people are really upset," Spurs forward Sean Elliott said. "We blew some defensive assignments. We obviously have to win. We'll see how we respond. A lot of guys are really angry right now. We felt like we gave the game away. We have no choice but to be ready Tuesday."

David Robinson had another huge game, helping to compensate for hte loss of Duncan with 37 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. But he scored only four points in the fourth quarter and didn't get much help from his teammates as the Spurs continued to miss Duncan in crunch time.

"We've been in this spot before, the second game at home," said Robinson. "It was pretty much like an elimination game for us. We had to really focus and this is the same way we have to understand what the importance is for Game 4 and get it done."

Penny Hardaway had his first career postseason triple-double with 17 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds for Phoenix, which can end a four-year first-round skid despite the absence of injured point guard Jason Kidd (ankle), who is harboring hopes of returning for the conference semifinals.

The Spurs eliminated the Suns in the first round in 1996 and 1998, but Phoenix sent San Antonio home in the conference finals in 1993 en route to the NBA Finals.

SAN ANTONIO 10-game log	PHOENIX 10-game log
Apr. 2 Apr. 4 Apr. 5 Apr. 8 Apr. 9 Apr. 11 Apr. 13 Apr. 15 Apr. 17 Apr. 19 @ Miami @ Orlando Sacramento @ LA Lakers @ Vancouver @ Sacramento Portland Utah Vancouver LA Lakers L 84-88 L 97-107 L 98-108 W 98-80 W 107-99 W 98-92 L 77-93 W 106-83 W 100-93 W 103-98	Apr. 2 Apr. 4 Apr. 6 Apr. 9 Apr. 11 Apr. 12 Apr. 14 Apr. 16 Apr. 18 Apr. 19 @ Minnesota LA Lakers @ Utah @ Sacramento @ LA Clippers Vancouver LA Clippers Utah Houston @ Golden State W 87-86 L 83-84 L 85-105 W 102-97 W 95-88 W 122-116 W 112-88 L 82-96 L 98-107 W 99-88