They are trying to become fourth team to win the final two games at home since the NBA went to the 2-3-2 format for the finals in 1985. 8 and 10, had too much defense and way too much James for the Spurs in the final 17 minutes. The Heat, who haven't lost consecutive games since Jan. Then he changed the game and erased that story. San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) and Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) collide during the second half of Game 6 of their NBA Finals basketball series, Tuesday, Jin Miami.īefore that, he had been 12 minutes from hearing the familiar criticisms about not being able to get it done, from having to watch a team celebrate on his home floor again. "I guess the headband was the least of my worries at that point," James said. Losing the game would have been far worse. Nor was it particularly important to him. He couldn't remember exactly when or how. Somewhere in there, early in the fourth quarter, James lost his familiar headband. He finished 11 of 26, even making a steal after his basket had given Miami a 101-100 edge in the OT. James was just 3 of 12 after three quarters, the Heat trailing by 10 and frustration apparent among the players and panic setting in among the fans. "A couple rebounds we didn't catch, a tough 3 by Ray and a couple missed free throws.
We were a few seconds away from winning the championship and we let it go," Spurs veteran Manu Ginobili said.
They looked headed to a fifth title in five chances when they built a 13-point lead with under 4 minutes left in the third quarter, then grabbed a five-point edge with 28 seconds left in regulation after blowing the lead.īut James hit a 3-pointer and Ray Allen tied it with another. "They're the best two words in sports: Game 7," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.Īnd two the Spurs were oh-so-close to avoiding. Game 7 will be here Thursday, the NBA's first do-or-die matchup to determine its champion since the Lakers beat the Celtics in 2010. Tim Duncan scored 30 points for the Spurs, his most in an NBA Finals game since Game 1 in 2003, but was shut out after the third quarter. We gave it everything that we had and more." And you know, that's why you play the game to the final buzzer," James said. "We seen the championship board already out there, the yellow tape.
So close to being eliminated that they noticed officials bringing yellow tape out to block off the court for the Spurs' trophy presentation, the Heat hit a couple of big 3-pointers, got some defensive stops, and did everything else that makes great teams champions. Losing his headband but keeping his cool while playing the entire second half and overtime, James finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, making the go-ahead basket with 1:43 remaining in the extra period.
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