GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: SAN ANTONIO (15-4) at CLEVELAND (12-7)

NBA: SAN ANTONIO (15-4) at CLEVELAND (12-7)

<h3>Last chance for LeBron, Cavs</h3>

<div class="pre">San Antonio at Cleveland 9:00 pm EDT</div><div class="pre">NBA Finals Spurs lead, 3-0</div>

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliersare down to their final chance in the NBA Finals.

The Cavaliers try to stay alive when they host the San AntonioSpurs in Game Four of the Finals on Thursday.

The Spurs emerged victorious in a low-scoring battle ofattrition in Game Three. They amended their usual big three,leaning on Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Bruce Bowen, who combinedfor 44 points in a rugged 75-72 victory over James andCleveland.

San Antonio connected on 10-of-19 3-point shots - many of themof the back-breaking variety. No team in NBA history hasrecovered from such a deficit.

"Well, everybody has to still believe," James said. "You know,<div class="pre">it's the first of four games (to come back and win). We have</div>to come out aggressive and just continue to play hard. We gaveourselves a chance to win tonight, and that's all we can askfor."

James collected 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists inGame Three.

With one more win, the Spurs will become just the fourth team inleague history to win four championships, joining the BostonCeltics (16), Los Angeles Lakers (14) and Chicago Bulls (six).

On the verge of their fourth NBA title since 1999, the Spurspredictably have fed off their swarming defense. And enteringThursday's game, they are peaking at that end of the floor.

Coach Gregg Popovich, who is not know for throwing aroundsuperlatives, praised his team in no uncertain terms.

"I think I can honestly say that these three games (it) is thebest defense we've played all season," he said. "This is thebest defense we've played in the playoffs, and it has beenback-to-back with a doubt."

James and the Cavaliers will have to find a way to break thatdefensive pressure in order to avoid an embarrassing defeat.

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS


SAN ANTONIO AT CLEVELAND - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


SAN ANTONIO CLEVELAND

F Tim Duncan F LeBron James
F Bruce Bowen F Drew Gooden
C Fabricio Oberto C Zydrunas Ilgauskas
G Tony Parker G Aleksandar Pavlovic
G Michael Finley G Daniel Gibson

OFFICIALS: Joe Forte
Bennett Salvatore
Eddie F. Rush</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 4
CLEVELAND 7 8:53 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 8
CLEVELAND 12 5:50 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 17
CLEVELAND 16 2:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 19
CLEVELAND 20 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
SAN ANTONIO 19 19
CLEVELAND 20 20 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

SAS - TONY PARKER 10, MICHAEL FINLEY 3, MANU
GINOBILI 2
CLE - LEBRON JAMES 6, DANIEL GIBSON 5,
ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC 3</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 23
CLEVELAND 25 9:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 30
CLEVELAND 25 6:05 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 37
CLEVELAND 31 2:26 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 39
CLEVELAND 34 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
SAN ANTONIO 19 20 39
CLEVELAND 20 14 34 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

SAS - TONY PARKER 15, MANU GINOBILI 9,
FRANCISCO ELSON 4
CLE - LEBRON JAMES 9, DANIEL GIBSON 5,
ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS 4</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 44
CLEVELAND 38 8:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 50
CLEVELAND 42 5:41 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 56
CLEVELAND 45 2:44 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 60
CLEVELAND 52 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
SAN ANTONIO 19 20 21 60
CLEVELAND 20 14 18 52 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

SAS - TONY PARKER 24, MANU GINOBILI 14, TIM
DUNCAN 8
CLE - DREW GOODEN 11, LEBRON JAMES 11, DANIEL
GIBSON 8</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 60
CLEVELAND 57 9:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 62
CLEVELAND 63 6:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 69
CLEVELAND 66 3:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>