Gordan Giricek found himself a nice spot in the rotation with the Suns in the second half of the season and could return to Phoenix next year, according to the Arizona Republic.

"The game fits me," Giricek said. "I like the city. I like the team. I like the coaches, the whole organization. I really mean that. We'll see what happens. I'm very happy here."

"I would like to (return). You never know," he added.

He played important minutes down the stretch for the Suns in the playoffs, and management appears interested in him returning as well.

Steve Kerr refuted a report on Wednesday that Head Coach Mike D'Antoni is on his way out in Phoenix.

"There's no truth to that," Kerr told the Arizona Republic. "I asked Mike when the story came out, and he denied it. Mike's our coach and has done a great job for four years. We'll get together soon and talk about where this team can go from here."

A late report by Sports Illustrated's Jack McCallum on Tuesday night indicates that Mike D'Antoni may not return to coach the Suns next season, according to the Arizona Republic.

Phoenix was eliminated by San Antonio in Game Five of their playoff series on Tuesday evening.

D'Antoni has two years and over $8 million left on his current contract.

There have been noted problems between D'Antoni and General Manager Steve Kerr, including an argument that took place in November about the team's offensive strategy.

It looks like Sam Mitchell may be safe in Toronto after all.

According to Doug Smith of the Toronto Star, Raptors' GM Bryan Colangelo called the speculation that Mitchell could be fired "absolutely ludicrous".

In recent days rumors have surfaced that Mitchell would be replaced with Phoenix Head Coach Mike D'Antoni, should he be relieved of his duties after the Suns were eliminated by the Spurs on Tuesday.

"Let's suffice it to say, all things should be put to rest right now when I say that I have absolutely no intention to make a coaching change at this time," Colangelo said.

"When you talk about the scenarios that have been brought up and the speculation on whether or not a first-round playoff loss would result in Sam's ouster, all of that is absolute speculation and it's also story-telling more than anything."

SAS 92, PHX 87 The San Antonio Spurs barely edged the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night to advance to the second round of the playoffs and face the New Orleans Hornets.

Tony Parker had 31 points and 8 assists and Tim Duncan tallied 29 points and 18 rebounds for the Spurs, who shot just 38% from the floor but outrebounded Phoenix by eight.

Boris Diaw posted 22 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists and Amare Stoudemire added 15 points and 12 boards for the Suns, who went just 20-for-37 from the three-point line and entered the fourth quarter with a three-point lead.

The contest was incredibly close throughout, but the Suns turned the ball over numerous times in the final minutes to ensure their elimination. They compiled seven turnovers in the fourth quarter alone.

The game was knotted at 85 with two minutes left, but the defending champion Spurs used a 7-2 run to close out the game and the series.

Game FIC Scores
Boris Diaw, PHX - 21.3
Tim Duncan, SAS - 18.1
Tony Parker, SAS - 16.5
Steve Nash, PHX - (3.3)

Shaquille O'Neal defended Phoenix Coach Mike D'Antoni on Tuesday despite the fact that the team will face elimination for the second-straight game on Tuesday night, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

"Usually when things go wrong, the top two or three guys take the heat," O?Neal said. "I?ve been around a lot of coaches, and he is the right guy. He has a great relationship and terrific rapport with the players. It?s never the coach. It?s always the players."

Suns' players are trying to take the heat off Head Coach Mike D'Antoni, whose position in Phoenix may be in jeopardy, Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic is reporting.

"I've been around a lot of guys, a lot of coaches," Suns center Shaquille O'Neal said. "I think he's the right guy. He really is. He's an excellent, excellent man. He has a great relationship and a great rapport with the players. It's our job to make him look good. They've been looking good the last few years before I got here. They just could never get over the hump, but there are a lot of teams that have never got over the hump."

"Mike D is the excellent guy for the job. Luckily, I've been on four championship teams with some great Hall of Fame coaches. I've got to put Mike D in that category. It's never the coach. It's always the players."

"We win as a team," Suns' guard Steve Nash said. "We lose as a team. It's near-sighted to put all the blame on him. We've all got to share responsibility in our success and our failures. Look, we've got about 10 plays that could've gone the other way, and we would've won Game 1 and he would've been a genius. The truth is never as extreme as it's made out to be. It's always, I think, somewhere in the middle."

Grant Hill is already listed as questionable for Game Five between his Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs, according to the Arizona Republic.

He did not play in the Suns' victory in Game Four on Sunday afternoon  because of lingering lower abdominal and right groin strains.

"I talked to Coach (Mike D'Antoni) and (General Manager Steve) Kerr yesterday, and they told me if you're injured, you can't be out there," Hill said. "I've tried so I can look in the mirror. Maybe I should have sat out Game 2."

With the Raptors on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs, there is speculation that GM Bryan Colangelo may make a move, with Head Coach Sam Mitchell possibly becoming a casualty of a poor end to the season, Marc Berman of the New York Post is reporting.

Colangelo has not hired a coach in Toronto, and should D'Antoni be cut loose in Phoenix he may be a target.

Donnie Walsh and the Knicks, meanwhile, would appear to be interested if Mitchell hits the open market. Walsh was poised to interview Mitchell last season while with the Pacers when it appeared that Toronto would not renew his contract.

Mark Jackson, who still appears to be the favorite with the Knicks, is expected to talk to the Bulls Wednesday.

- PHX 105, SAS 86
The Phoenix Suns avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs with a dominant win in Game Four of the best-of-seven series on Sunday afternoon.

Raja Bell posted 27 points and Boris Diaw tallied 20 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists for the Suns, who went 9-for-20 from behind the three-point line and turned the ball over just nine times.

Tony Parker had 19 points and Tim Duncan added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who made just 38% of their field goal attempts and managed just thirteen first-quarter points.

Amare Stoudemire struggled with just 7 points and 7 rebounds, but Shaquille O'Neal helped pick up the slack with 14 points and 13 boards in the huge win.

Game Five will be Tuesday night in San Antonio as the Suns look to remain alive with another win in an elimination game.

Stoudemire picked up a technical foul late in the second half and O'Neal and Bruce Bowen were assessed double-technicals just before halftime.

Game FIC Scores
Raja Bell, PHX - 25.3
Boris Diaw, PHX - 17.0
Tim Duncan, SAS - 10.5
Bruce Bowen, SAS - (2.8)