GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: SAN ANTONIO (14-4) at CLEVELAND (12-6)

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 67
CLEVELAND 60 5:44 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 67
CLEVELAND 63 3:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 72
CLEVELAND 70 0:34 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 75
CLEVELAND 72 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
SAN ANTONIO 16 24 15 20 75
CLEVELAND 18 20 12 22 72 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: SAS - TONY PARKER 17, TIM DUNCAN 14, BRUCE
BOWEN 13
CLE - LEBRON JAMES 25, DREW GOODEN 13,
ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC 13</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

** CONFIRMED **
NBA
SAN ANTONIO 75
CLEVELAND 72 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

SAN ANTONIO (75) AT CLEVELAND (72)

SAN ANTONIO

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

B BOWEN F 43:40 4-6 1-4 0 9 9 1 1 1 1 13
T DUNCAN F 33:55 6-17 2-2 2 7 9 3 4 1 2 14
F OBERTO C 20:32 3-7 0-0 1 3 4 0 3 0 2 6
M FINLEY G 23:56 3-7 0-0 0 2 2 1 1 4 1 7
T PARKER G 38:56 7-17 2-4 1 4 5 3 0 0 3 17
R HORRY 19:40 1-1 0-0 1 4 5 2 1 0 0 3
E GINOBILI 27:12 0-7 3-4 0 4 4 5 2 0 3 3
J VAUGHN 8:59 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
F ELSON 5:45 0-0 1-2 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1
B BARRY 17:25 3-5 0-0 1 1 2 0 1 1 1 9

TOTALS 240:00 28-68 9-16 7 34 41 15 15 7 14 75
(.412) (.563) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 14 (10 PTS)

CLEVELAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

L JAMES F 41:59 9-23 7-8 0 8 8 7 3 2 5 25
D GOODEN F 32:43 5-11 3-4 4 8 12 1 6 0 2 13
Z ILGAUSKAS C 32:14 6-13 0-1 10 8 18 0 2 1 3 12
S PAVLOVIC G 41:43 5-15 1-2 0 0 0 3 3 0 1 13
D GIBSON G 36:06 1-10 0-0 0 3 3 1 0 1 0 2
A VAREJAO 14:36 2-4 0-0 1 3 4 0 1 2 1 4
DA JONES 17:50 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 3
D MARSHALL 6:11 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
E SNOW 16:38 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 5 0 1 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 29-79 11-15 15 33 48 19 17 7 12 72
(.367) (.733) TEAM REBS: 4 TOTAL TO: 13 (5 PTS)

SAN ANTONIO 16 24 15 20 - 75
CLEVELAND 18 20 12 22 - 72

BLOCKED SHOTS: SAN ANTONIO - T DUNCAN 2. CLEVELAND - A VAREJAO 2,
Z ILGAUSKAS, L JAMES, D GOODEN.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: SAN ANTONIO 10-19 (.526), B BOWEN 4-5, M FINLEY 1-
3, T PARKER 1-3, R HORRY 1-1, E GINOBILI 0-3, B BARRY 3-4. CLEVELAND 3-
19 (.158), L JAMES 0-5, S PAVLOVIC 2-6, D GIBSON 0-5, DA JONES 1-2,
D MARSHALL 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BERNIE FRYER, BOB DELANEY, DAN CRAWFORD.
A - 20,562. T - N/A.</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

SAN ANTONIO (75)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
B Bowen 43:40 4-6 1-4 0-9 1 1 13
T Duncan 33:55 6-17 2-2 2-9 3 4 14
F Oberto 20:32 3-7 0-0 1-4 0 3 6
M Finley 23:56 3-7 0-0 0-2 1 1 7
T Parker 38:56 7-17 2-4 1-5 3 0 17
R Horry 19:40 1-1 0-0 1-5 2 1 3
E Ginobili 27:12 0-7 3-4 0-4 5 2 3
J Vaughn 8:59 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 2
F Elson 5:45 0-0 1-2 1-1 0 1 1
B Barry 17:25 3-5 0-0 1-2 0 1 9

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-68 9-16 7-41 15 15 75
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.412, FT-.563. 3-Point Goals:
10-19, .526 (B Bowen 4-5, M Finley 1-3, T
Parker 1-3, R Horry 1-1, E Ginobili 0-3, B
Barry 3-4). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:2
(T Duncan 2). Turnovers:14 (T Parker 3, E
Ginobili 3, T Duncan 2, F Oberto 2, B Barry,
B Bowen, M Finley, F Elson). Steals: 7 (M
Finley 4, B Barry, B Bowen, T Duncan).


CLEVELAND (72)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
L James 41:59 9-23 7-8 0-8 7 3 25
D Gooden 32:43 5-11 3-4 4-12 1 6 13
Z Ilgauskas 32:14 6-13 0-1 10-18 0 2 12
S Pavlovic 41:43 5-15 1-2 0-0 3 3 13
D Gibson 36:06 1-10 0-0 0-3 1 0 2
A Varejao 14:36 2-4 0-0 1-4 0 1 4
Da Jones 17:50 1-2 0-0 0-1 2 1 3
D Marshall 6:11 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
E Snow 16:38 0-0 0-0 0-1 5 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 29-79 11-15 15-48 19 17 72
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.367, FT-.733. 3-Point Goals:
3-19, .158 (L James 0-5, S Pavlovic 2-6, D
Gibson 0-5, Da Jones 1-2, D Marshall 0-1).
Team Rebounds: 4. Blocked Shots:5 (A Varejao
2, Z Ilgauskas, L James, D Gooden).
Turnovers:12 (L James 5, Z Ilgauskas 3, D
Gooden 2, A Varejao, S Pavlovic). Steals: 7
(A Varejao 2, L James 2, E Snow, D Gibson, Z
Ilgauskas).

-------------------------------------------
SAN ANTONIO 16 24 15 20 - 75
CLEVELAND 18 20 12 22 - 72
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 20,562. T: N/A.
Officials: Bernie Fryer, Bob Delaney, Dan
Crawford.</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

SAN ANTONIO (75) AT CLEVELAND (72)

SAN ANTONIO

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

B BOWEN F 43:40 4-6 1-4 0 9 9 1 1 1 1 13
T DUNCAN F 33:55 6-17 2-2 2 7 9 3 4 1 2 14
F OBERTO C 20:32 3-7 0-0 1 3 4 0 3 0 2 6
M FINLEY G 23:56 3-7 0-0 0 2 2 1 1 4 1 7
T PARKER G 38:56 7-17 2-4 1 4 5 3 0 0 3 17
R HORRY 19:40 1-1 0-0 1 4 5 2 1 0 0 3
E GINOBILI 27:12 0-7 3-4 0 4 4 5 2 0 3 3
J VAUGHN 8:59 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
F ELSON 5:45 0-0 1-2 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1
B BARRY 17:25 3-5 0-0 1 1 2 0 1 1 1 9

TOTALS 240:00 28-68 9-16 7 34 41 15 15 7 14 75
(.412) (.563) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 14 (10 PTS)

CLEVELAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

L JAMES F 41:59 9-23 7-8 0 8 8 7 3 2 5 25
D GOODEN F 32:43 5-11 3-4 4 8 12 1 6 0 2 13
Z ILGAUSKAS C 32:14 6-13 0-1 10 8 18 0 2 1 3 12
S PAVLOVIC G 41:43 5-15 1-2 0 0 0 3 3 0 1 13
D GIBSON G 36:06 1-10 0-0 0 3 3 1 0 1 0 2
A VAREJAO 14:36 2-4 0-0 1 3 4 0 1 2 1 4
DA JONES 17:50 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 3
D MARSHALL 6:11 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
E SNOW 16:38 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 5 0 1 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 29-79 11-15 15 33 48 19 17 7 12 72
(.367) (.733) TEAM REBS: 4 TOTAL TO: 13 (5 PTS)

SAN ANTONIO 16 24 15 20 - 75
CLEVELAND 18 20 12 22 - 72

BLOCKED SHOTS: SAN ANTONIO - T DUNCAN 2. CLEVELAND - A VAREJAO 2,
Z ILGAUSKAS, L JAMES, D GOODEN.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: SAN ANTONIO 10-19 (.526), B BOWEN 4-5, M FINLEY 1-
3, T PARKER 1-3, R HORRY 1-1, E GINOBILI 0-3, B BARRY 3-4. CLEVELAND 3-
19 (.158), L JAMES 0-5, S PAVLOVIC 2-6, D GIBSON 0-5, DA JONES 1-2,
D MARSHALL 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BERNIE FRYER, BOB DELANEY, DAN CRAWFORD.
A - 20,562. T - 2:38.</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

SAN ANTONIO (75)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
B Bowen 43:40 4-6 1-4 0-9 1 1 13
T Duncan 33:55 6-17 2-2 2-9 3 4 14
F Oberto 20:32 3-7 0-0 1-4 0 3 6
M Finley 23:56 3-7 0-0 0-2 1 1 7
T Parker 38:56 7-17 2-4 1-5 3 0 17
R Horry 19:40 1-1 0-0 1-5 2 1 3
E Ginobili 27:12 0-7 3-4 0-4 5 2 3
J Vaughn 8:59 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 2
F Elson 5:45 0-0 1-2 1-1 0 1 1
B Barry 17:25 3-5 0-0 1-2 0 1 9

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-68 9-16 7-41 15 15 75
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.412, FT-.563. 3-Point Goals:
10-19, .526 (B Bowen 4-5, M Finley 1-3, T
Parker 1-3, R Horry 1-1, E Ginobili 0-3, B
Barry 3-4). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:2
(T Duncan 2). Turnovers:14 (T Parker 3, E
Ginobili 3, T Duncan 2, F Oberto 2, B Barry,
B Bowen, M Finley, F Elson). Steals: 7 (M
Finley 4, B Barry, B Bowen, T Duncan).


CLEVELAND (72)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
L James 41:59 9-23 7-8 0-8 7 3 25
D Gooden 32:43 5-11 3-4 4-12 1 6 13
Z Ilgauskas 32:14 6-13 0-1 10-18 0 2 12
S Pavlovic 41:43 5-15 1-2 0-0 3 3 13
D Gibson 36:06 1-10 0-0 0-3 1 0 2
A Varejao 14:36 2-4 0-0 1-4 0 1 4
Da Jones 17:50 1-2 0-0 0-1 2 1 3
D Marshall 6:11 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
E Snow 16:38 0-0 0-0 0-1 5 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 29-79 11-15 15-48 19 17 72
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.367, FT-.733. 3-Point Goals:
3-19, .158 (L James 0-5, S Pavlovic 2-6, D
Gibson 0-5, Da Jones 1-2, D Marshall 0-1).
Team Rebounds: 4. Blocked Shots:5 (A Varejao
2, Z Ilgauskas, L James, D Gooden).
Turnovers:12 (L James 5, Z Ilgauskas 3, D
Gooden 2, A Varejao, S Pavlovic). Steals: 7
(A Varejao 2, L James 2, E Snow, D Gibson, Z
Ilgauskas).

-------------------------------------------
SAN ANTONIO 16 24 15 20 - 75
CLEVELAND 18 20 12 22 - 72
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 20,562. T: 2:38.
Officials: Bernie Fryer, Bob Delaney, Dan
Crawford.</div>

 

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- In a contest resembling a heavyweightbout, the San Antonio Spurs have the wobbling ClevelandCavaliers on the ropes. But LeBron James may have taken acrucial hit that was overlooked.

Emerging victorious in a low-scoring battle of attrition, theSpurs amended their usual big three, leaning on Tim Duncan, TonyParker and Bruce Bowen, who combined for 44 points in a rugged75-72 victory over James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in GameThree of the NBA Finals.

San Antonio connected on 10-of-19 3-point shots - many of themof the backbreaking variety - en route to a 3-0 lead in thisbest-of-seven matchup. No team in NBA history has recoveredfrom such a deficit.

James collected 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists forthe Cavaliers, who will host Game Four on Sunday.

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).

Both teams looked out of sorts in the third quarter, combiningfor an NBA record-low 27 points in the period. San Antoniopicked it up in the fourth, nailing a barrage of clutch shots,including two free throws by Duncan and a 3-pointer by Parker tostave off the surging Cavaliers.

Trailing, 72-70, Cleveland's Anderson Varejao passed up an openjumper and drove on Duncan, spinning and bricking a wild shotoff the backboard with 10 seconds left. Manu Ginobili then made1-of-2 free throws to for a 73-70 lead.

After James went in for a quick score, Ginobili made two morefree throws to make it 75-72 with 5.5 seconds left. The threefree throws were his only points of the game.

On the game's final possession, James looked as if he wasgrabbed by Bowen as he rose for a 3-pointer, which skimmed offthe front rim.

Time expired as the teams fought for the rebound. Jamesverbally sparred with referees before turning and walkingangrily up the tunnel.

Surgically dismantling the Cavaliers in the first three quartersof Games One and Two, the three-time champion Spurs looked tobe cruising to yet another title under hard-nosed coach GreggPopovich.

San Antonio, however, had allowed Cleveland some hope byrelaxing in the final period of the first two contests. But ontheir way home for the first NBA Finals home game in franchisehistory, the Cavaliers didn't need any boost from theiropponents.

They fed off a frenzied crowd throughout. Clad in maroon andrising to their feet every time James touched the ball, the fanstried to spur on the Cavaliers, who seemed genuinely energizedby an obvious outpouring of support from a championship-starvedcity.

Hard-core Cleveland fans have sat through "The Drive" authoredby Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, a dishearteningseven-game loss to the expansion Florida Marlins in the WorldSeries and countless deplorable seasons by the Cavaliers.

But emerging as the face of the NBA, James has singlehandedlyresurrected Cleveland's basketball scene in just four seasons.

Prior to Game Three, coach Mike Brown implored his team to showthe effort necessary to compete in the Finals. And his squadcertainly played with passion, which was most noticeable on theboards.

The Cavaliers' biggest adjustment, though, was not theirconfidence. Cleveland placed hobbled guard Larry Hughes on theinactive list prior to the game and started emerging rookieDaniel Gibson in his place.

It was a long-awaited move by Brown, who refused to sit downHughes after he visibly limped through Game One.

After another injury-plagued performance in the second contest,Brown said prior to the Game Three that he would stick with theveteran Hughes if healthy because he did not want to disrupt thelineup that had gotten him to this championship series.

Hughes, though, was deemed unable to perform during anexamination before the game.

James, for his part, was aggressive, posting Spurs defensivespecialist Bowen on several possessions and looking for hisshot.

But the young superstar turned the ball over three times in thefirst period, continuing his sloppy play, and picked up histhird foul midway through the second. With James out of thegame, San Antonio went on a 10-0 run to end the half for a 40-38lead.

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA SAN ANTONIO AT CLEVELAND
NOTE: RESENDING - CORRECTING MINUTES.</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

SAN ANTONIO (75) AT CLEVELAND (72)

SAN ANTONIO

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

B BOWEN F 43:40 4-6 1-4 0 9 9 1 1 1 1 13
T DUNCAN F 33:55 6-17 2-2 2 7 9 3 4 1 2 14
F OBERTO C 20:32 3-7 0-0 1 3 4 0 3 0 2 6
M FINLEY G 23:56 3-7 0-0 0 2 2 1 1 4 1 7
T PARKER G 38:56 7-17 2-4 1 4 5 3 0 0 3 17
R HORRY 19:40 1-1 0-0 1 4 5 2 1 0 0 3
E GINOBILI 27:12 0-7 3-4 0 4 4 5 2 0 3 3
J VAUGHN 8:59 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
F ELSON 5:45 0-0 1-2 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1
B BARRY 17:25 3-5 0-0 1 1 2 0 1 1 1 9

TOTALS 240:00 28-68 9-16 7 34 41 15 15 7 14 75
(.412) (.563) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 14 (10 PTS)

CLEVELAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

L JAMES F 41:59 9-23 7-8 0 8 8 7 3 2 5 25
D GOODEN F 32:43 5-11 3-4 4 8 12 1 6 0 2 13
Z ILGAUSKAS C 32:14 6-13 0-1 10 8 18 0 2 1 3 12
S PAVLOVIC G 41:43 5-15 1-2 0 0 0 3 3 0 1 13
D GIBSON G 36:06 1-10 0-0 0 3 3 1 0 1 0 2
A VAREJAO 14:36 2-4 0-0 1 3 4 0 1 2 1 4
DA JONES 17:50 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 3
D MARSHALL 6:11 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
E SNOW 16:38 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 5 0 1 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 29-79 11-15 15 33 48 19 17 7 12 72
(.367) (.733) TEAM REBS: 4 TOTAL TO: 13 (5 PTS)

SAN ANTONIO 16 24 15 20 - 75
CLEVELAND 18 20 12 22 - 72

BLOCKED SHOTS: SAN ANTONIO - T DUNCAN 2. CLEVELAND - A VAREJAO 2,
Z ILGAUSKAS, L JAMES, D GOODEN.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: SAN ANTONIO 10-19 (.526), B BOWEN 4-5, M FINLEY 1-
3, T PARKER 1-3, R HORRY 1-1, E GINOBILI 0-3, B BARRY 3-4. CLEVELAND 3-
19 (.158), L JAMES 0-5, S PAVLOVIC 2-6, D GIBSON 0-5, DA JONES 1-2,
D MARSHALL 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BERNIE FRYER, BOB DELANEY, DAN CRAWFORD.
A - 20,562. T - 2:38.</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

SAN ANTONIO (75)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
B Bowen 43:40 4-6 1-4 0-9 1 1 13
T Duncan 33:55 6-17 2-2 2-9 3 4 14
F Oberto 20:32 3-7 0-0 1-4 0 3 6
M Finley 23:56 3-7 0-0 0-2 1 1 7
T Parker 38:56 7-17 2-4 1-5 3 0 17
R Horry 19:40 1-1 0-0 1-5 2 1 3
E Ginobili 27:12 0-7 3-4 0-4 5 2 3
J Vaughn 8:59 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 2
F Elson 5:45 0-0 1-2 1-1 0 1 1
B Barry 17:25 3-5 0-0 1-2 0 1 9

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-68 9-16 7-41 15 15 75
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.412, FT-.563. 3-Point Goals:
10-19, .526 (B Bowen 4-5, M Finley 1-3, T
Parker 1-3, R Horry 1-1, E Ginobili 0-3, B
Barry 3-4). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:2
(T Duncan 2). Turnovers:14 (T Parker 3, E
Ginobili 3, T Duncan 2, F Oberto 2, B Barry,
B Bowen, M Finley, F Elson). Steals: 7 (M
Finley 4, B Barry, B Bowen, T Duncan).


CLEVELAND (72)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
L James 41:59 9-23 7-8 0-8 7 3 25
D Gooden 32:43 5-11 3-4 4-12 1 6 13
Z Ilgauskas 32:14 6-13 0-1 10-18 0 2 12
S Pavlovic 41:43 5-15 1-2 0-0 3 3 13
D Gibson 36:06 1-10 0-0 0-3 1 0 2
A Varejao 14:36 2-4 0-0 1-4 0 1 4
Da Jones 17:50 1-2 0-0 0-1 2 1 3
D Marshall 6:11 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
E Snow 16:38 0-0 0-0 0-1 5 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 29-79 11-15 15-48 19 17 72
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.367, FT-.733. 3-Point Goals:
3-19, .158 (L James 0-5, S Pavlovic 2-6, D
Gibson 0-5, Da Jones 1-2, D Marshall 0-1).
Team Rebounds: 4. Blocked Shots:5 (A Varejao
2, Z Ilgauskas, L James, D Gooden).
Turnovers:12 (L James 5, Z Ilgauskas 3, D
Gooden 2, A Varejao, S Pavlovic). Steals: 7
(A Varejao 2, L James 2, E Snow, D Gibson, Z
Ilgauskas).

-------------------------------------------
SAN ANTONIO 16 24 15 20 - 75
CLEVELAND 18 20 12 22 - 72
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 20,562. T: 2:38.
Officials: Bernie Fryer, Bob Delaney, Dan
Crawford.</div>

 

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- In a contest resembling a heavyweightbout, the San Antonio Spurs have the wobbly Cleveland Cavalierson the ropes. But LeBron James may have taken a crucial hitthat was overlooked.

Emerging victorious in a low-scoring battle of attrition, theSpurs amended their usual big three, leaning on Tim Duncan, TonyParker and Bruce Bowen, who combined for 44 points in a rugged75-72 victory over James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in GameThree of the NBA Finals.

San Antonio connected on 10-of-19 3-point shots - many of themof the backbreaking variety - en route to a 3-0 lead in thisbest-of-seven matchup. No team in NBA history has recoveredfrom 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 forthe Cavaliers, who will host Game Four on Sunday.

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).

"It's going to take a lot of effort and a lot of energy," Parkersaid. "I know Cleveland, they have a lot of pride and they'regoing to play with a lot more energy in Game Four."

Parker, who scored 57 points in the first two games, had 17points while Duncan added 14 and nine rebounds and Bowen 13 andnine for the Spurs.

Both teams looked out of sorts in the third quarter, combiningfor an NBA record-low 27 points in the period. San Antoniopicked it up in the fourth, nailing a barrage of clutch shots,including two free throws by Duncan and a 3-pointer by Parker tostave off the surging Cavaliers.

"We set the Western world of basketball back 10 years," Spurscoach Gregg Popovich joked.

With Cleveland trailing, 72-70, Anderson Varejao passed up anopen jumper and drove on Duncan, spinning and bricking a wildshot off the backboard with 10 seconds left.

"I was definitely going to get it back from Andy, but Andy madea good move," James said. "He just overshot it. I definitelywanted to try and get a good look at it or give my teammate abetter look at it, but it was just miscommunication."

San Antonio's Manu Ginobili then made 1-of-2 free throws to fora 73-70 lead.

After James went in for a quick score, Ginobili made two more<div class="pre">foul shots to make it 75-72 with 5.5 seconds left. The three</div>free throws were his only points of the game.

"No, I wouldn't expect (to win with Ginobili playing poorly).That's why I think Bruce picked up a lot of slack," saidPopovich, who lauded Bowen's production on 4-of-6 shooting."But hopefully, Manu will have a better game on Thursday."

On the game's final possession, James looked as if he wasgrabbed by Bowen as he rose for a 3-pointer, which skimmed offthe front rim.

Time expired as the teams fought for the rebound. Jamesverbally sparred with referees before turning and walkingangrily up the tunnel.

James did not want to talk about a foul on the shot.

"On the 3-pointer?" said James, who acted as if he was not angryabout the play. "We had to go for a three, we were down threepoints. You know, it went in and came out."

When pressed further, James refused to blame Bowen for the miss.

"Incidental contact," he barked. "It didn't affect my shot. Ihad a good look at it and missed."

Surgically dismantling the Cavaliers in the first three quartersof Games One and Two, the three-time champion Spurs looked tobe cruising to yet another title under Popovich.

San Antonio, however, had allowed Cleveland some hope byrelaxing in the final period of the first two contests. But ontheir way home for the first NBA Finals home game in franchisehistory, the Cavaliers got a boost from another source.

They fed off a frenzied crowd throughout. Clad in maroon andrising to their feet every time James touched the ball, the fanstried to spur on the Cavaliers, who seemed genuinely energizedby an obvious outpouring of support from a championship-starvedcity.

Hard-core Cleveland fans have suffered through "The Drive"authored by Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, adisheartening seven-game loss to the expansion Florida Marlinsin the 1997 World Series and countless deplorable seasons by theCavaliers.

But emerging as the face of the NBA, James has singlehandedlyresurrected Cleveland's basketball scene in just four seasons.

He did not pay attention to the Cavaliers' poor history anddoesn't want to dwell on what other squads have done whentrailing in the Finals 3-0.

"We can't live on history, but at the same time we have dugourselves a big hole and we know that," James said. "We have tocome out and try to win four straight games."

Prior to Game Three, Cleveland coach Mike Brown implored histeam to show the effort necessary to compete in the Finals. Andhis squad certainly played with passion, which was mostnoticeable on the boards.

"I thought the guys fought, they gave effort, but we did notmake enough plays, especially down the stretch," Brown said.

The Cavaliers' biggest adjustment, though, was not theirconfidence. Cleveland placed hobbled guard Larry Hughes on theinactive list prior to the game and started emerging rookieDaniel Gibson in his place.

It was a long-awaited move by Brown, who refused to sit Hughesafter he visibly limped through Game One.

"I had a gut feeling, and I went with starting Daniel," Brownsaid.

Gibson struggled, however, shooting just 1-of-10 from the fieldin a starting role.

"I just felt I didn't make shots," Gibson said. "I wascomfortable shooting the ball. I was comfortable out there withthe starting lineup. (The shots) just didn't go down for me."

Brown wasn't surprised.

"The team had a nice rhythm, starting Larry and bringing Danieloff the bench," he said. "Daniel had a nice rhythm also.That's why we wanted to keep it like that."

The became impossible when Hughes was deemed unable to performduring an examination before the game.

James, for his part, was aggressive, posting Spurs defensivespecialist Bowen on several possessions and looking for hisshot.

"I thought LeBron did a terrific job driving the ball," Brownsaid. "He had a couple go in and out which could have reallyhelped us with the outcome of the game."

But the young superstar turned the ball over three times in thefirst period, continuing his sloppy play, and picked up histhird foul midway through the second. With James out of thegame, San Antonio went on a 10-0 run to end the half for a 40-38lead.

"This is all about (the Spurs)," James said. "They played verygood defense. They played elbows and boxes, and if I'm comingoff someone that's there and I have to swing the ball to ateammate or come off a pick-and-roll, they're there again."