Phoenix ? The Phoenix Suns squared their Western Conference semifinal series with a bandage on Steve Nash’s nose, a second big man in the starting lineup and a blowout of the San Antonio Spurs.

With much of the crowd wearing nose bandages in honor of Nash, the Suns dominated the fourth quarter to beat the Spurs, 101-81, Tuesday night and even the best-of-seven series at a game apiece.

Amare Stoudemire scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half to lead Phoenix. Nash – who cut his nose and missed a critical 45 seconds at the end of Game 1 – added 20 points and 16 assists as the Suns beat the Spurs in a playoff game in Phoenix for the first time in five games dating to 2005.

Raja Bell added 18 for the winners. Game 3 will be Saturday in San Antonio.

Tim Duncan scored 29 points despite foul trouble for San Antonio. But unlike Game 1, he got little help from his teammates while the Suns spread around the scoring.

Coach Mike D’Antoni’s decision to start Kurt Thomas and have him defend Duncan freed up Stoudemire to concentrate on offense. As a result, the Phoenix big man had plenty of energy to counter Duncan’s one-man show in the third quarter.

Stoudemire and Duncan each scored 15 in the period, but the Spurs’ star drew his fourth foul and left the game with 2:56 to play.

Thomas, meanwhile, added 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 28 minutes. Leandro Barbosa scored 13 as five Suns reached double figures.

After scoring 32 in Sunday’s 111-106 series-opening victory, the Spurs’ Tony Parker managed only 13 on 5-of-14 shooting. Bruce Bowen also scored 13 and Manu Ginobili 11.

The Suns took the lead for good midway through the second quarter and were up by 12 early in the fourth. The decisive blow was an 11-2 surge that began with a no-look, over-the-head pass from Boris Diaw to Stoudemire for a layup and ended with Thomas’ inside basket on a feed from Nash that put Phoenix ahead 84-68 with 8:07 left.

Even though Duncan was back, the Spurs never threatened seriously again.

Phoenix outscored San Antonio, 7-2, to start the second half, taking a 56-44 lead on Stoudemire’s dunk with 7:58 to play in the third.