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

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 76
CLEVELAND 69 0:50 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
SAN ANTONIO 83
CLEVELAND 82 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
SAN ANTONIO 19 20 21 23 83
CLEVELAND 20 14 18 30 82 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: SAS - MANU GINOBILI 27, TONY PARKER 24, TIM
DUNCAN 12
CLE - LEBRON JAMES 24, DREW GOODEN 11, DANIEL
GIBSON 10</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

** CONFIRMED **
NBA
SAN ANTONIO 83
CLEVELAND 82 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

SAN ANTONIO (83) AT CLEVELAND (82)

SAN ANTONIO

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

B BOWEN F 42:09 1-6 0-0 1 4 5 3 4 0 0 2
T DUNCAN F 40:10 4-15 4-10 5 10 15 3 3 2 6 12
F OBERTO C 25:24 3-5 1-1 3 2 5 0 2 1 0 7
M FINLEY G 15:40 1-5 2-3 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4
T PARKER G 38:36 10-14 2-5 0 7 7 1 2 0 3 24
R HORRY 19:02 0-2 1-2 1 2 3 1 1 0 2 1
E GINOBILI 33:23 8-19 8-11 1 4 5 3 5 1 1 27
F ELSON 10:54 1-1 2-2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4
J VAUGHN 9:24 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 2
B BARRY 5:18 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 1 1 0 1 0

TOTALS 240:00 29-68 20-34 11 34 45 13 19 5 14 83
(.426) (.588) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 14 (12 PTS)

CLEVELAND

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

L JAMES F 46:30 10-30 2-6 0 6 6 10 1 0 6 24
D GOODEN F 27:22 5-12 1-1 4 7 11 0 2 0 1 11
Z ILGAUSKAS C 25:47 3-8 2-2 5 8 13 1 3 0 1 8
S PAVLOVIC G 21:23 1-6 0-0 0 1 1 0 4 1 0 3
D GIBSON G 43:34 4-10 0-0 1 1 2 5 4 0 0 10
E SNOW 13:10 2-4 0-0 0 1 1 2 1 0 1 4
A VAREJAO 23:49 3-3 2-2 1 2 3 1 4 3 0 8
D MARSHALL 18:55 2-6 1-2 1 3 4 2 4 1 1 5
DA JONES 19:30 2-5 3-3 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 9

TOTALS 240:00 32-84 11-16 12 30 42 23 24 5 10 82
(.381) (.688) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 10 (8 PTS)

SAN ANTONIO 19 20 21 23 - 83
CLEVELAND 20 14 18 30 - 82

BLOCKED SHOTS: SAN ANTONIO - T DUNCAN 2. CLEVELAND - E SNOW, Z ILGAUSKAS.

3-PT. FIELD GOALS: SAN ANTONIO 5-19 (.263), B BOWEN 0-3, M FINLEY 0-
2, T PARKER 2-3, R HORRY 0-2, E GINOBILI 3-9. CLEVELAND 7-22 (.318),
L JAMES 2-7, S PAVLOVIC 1-2, D GIBSON 2-6, D MARSHALL 0-3, DA JONES 2-
4.
TECHNICAL FOULS: CLEVELAND - DEFENSIVE THREE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BENNETT SALVATORE, EDDIE F. RUSH, JOE FORTE.
A - 20,562. T - N/A.</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

SAN ANTONIO (83)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
B Bowen 42:09 1-6 0-0 1-5 3 4 2
T Duncan 40:10 4-15 4-10 5-15 3 3 12
F Oberto 25:24 3-5 1-1 3-5 0 2 7
M Finley 15:40 1-5 2-3 0-2 0 0 4
T Parker 38:36 10-14 2-5 0-7 1 2 24
R Horry 19:02 0-2 1-2 1-3 1 1 1
E Ginobili 33:23 8-19 8-11 1-5 3 5 27
F Elson 10:54 1-1 2-2 0-0 0 0 4
J Vaughn 9:24 1-1 0-0 0-1 1 1 2
B Barry 5:18 0-0 0-0 0-2 1 1 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 29-68 20-34 11-45 13 19 83
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.426, FT-.588. 3-Point Goals:
5-19, .263 (B Bowen 0-3, M Finley 0-2, T
Parker 2-3, R Horry 0-2, E Ginobili 3-9).
Team Rebounds: 12. Blocked Shots:2 (T Duncan
2). Turnovers:14 (T Duncan 6, T Parker 3, R
Horry 2, B Barry, E Ginobili, F Elson).
Steals: 5 (T Duncan 2, E Ginobili, F Elson, F
Oberto).


CLEVELAND (82)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
L James 46:30 10-30 2-6 0-6 10 1 24
D Gooden 27:22 5-12 1-1 4-11 0 2 11
Z Ilgauskas 25:47 3-8 2-2 5-13 1 3 8
S Pavlovic 21:23 1-6 0-0 0-1 0 4 3
D Gibson 43:34 4-10 0-0 1-2 5 4 10
E Snow 13:10 2-4 0-0 0-1 2 1 4
A Varejao 23:49 3-3 2-2 1-3 1 4 8
D Marshall 18:55 2-6 1-2 1-4 2 4 5
Da Jones 19:30 2-5 3-3 0-1 2 1 9

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 32-84 11-16 12-42 23 24 82
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.381, FT-.688. 3-Point Goals:
7-22, .318 (L James 2-7, S Pavlovic 1-2, D
Gibson 2-6, D Marshall 0-3, Da Jones 2-4).
Team Rebounds: 11. Blocked Shots:2 (E Snow, Z
Ilgauskas). Turnovers:10 (L James 6, E Snow,
D Marshall, Z Ilgauskas, D Gooden). Steals: 5
(A Varejao 3, D Marshall, S Pavlovic).

-------------------------------------------
SAN ANTONIO 19 20 21 23 - 83
CLEVELAND 20 14 18 30 - 82
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Cleveland - 1 (Defensive
Three, 7:45 1st).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 20,562. T: N/A.
Officials: Bennett Salvatore, Eddie F. Rush,
Joe Forte.</div>

 

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- It was a fitting ending to the series forthe relentless San Antonio Spurs, who made sure LeBron James andthe Cleveland Cavaliers will have to wait at least one moreyear to claim the throne.

Tony Parker scored 24 points en route to winning MVP honors andTim Duncan added 12 and 15 rebounds as the Spurs used a decisivefourth-quarter for an 83-82 victory over the Cavaliers andtheir fourth NBA championship since 1999.

Manu Ginobili added 27 points for the Spurs, who completed theirfirst sweep in the NBA Finals, eighth in league history andfirst since the Los Angeles Lakers had their way with the NewJersey Nets in 2002.

It now can be argued that San Antonio is a legitimate dynasty,joining the Boston Celtics (16), Lakers (14) and Chicago Bulls(six) as the only teams in league history to win at least fourchampionships.

The Spurs withstood a frantic run by Cleveland in the finalperiod, but then turned on the jets and sprinted to the finishline. Trailing, 60-52, heading into the fourth quarter, theCavaliers scored the first 11 points of the period to take a63-60 lead.

San Antonio then went on a 14-3 run, capped by Fabricio Oberto'slayup with two minutes left to make it 74-66. Time wouldbecome a factor as the Cavaliers poured in some points in thewaning seconds but it would be too little, too late.

It was more heavy lifting for James, who continued to getswarmed by an overloaded San Antonio defense. James, who had 24points and 10 assists on 10-of-30 shooting, also became afather for the second time early Thursday morning.

But despite the elation in the "Alamo City," the Finals havebeen lacking significant juice - thanks in part to a surgicallyprecise San Antonio squad. It also has been a forgettable weekfor the NBA, which has seen some of its worst ratings for theFinals in league history.

Sunday's Game Two went up against the finale of HBO's popularmob drama "The Sopranos," and with James - one of the faces ofthe NBA - in his first championship series, the league washoping for more.

But San Antonio made sure to stop the hype quickly.

After two demoralizing defeats in Games One and Two, theCavaliers returned home for their first NBA Finals home game infranchise history. With a rabid fan base spurring it on,Cleveland finally played a competitive game - even if it was anugly contest - but dropped a rugged 75-72 decision on Tuesday.

James had a chance to tie the game on its controversial finalplay. The young superstar hoisted a potential game-tying3-pointer that skimmed off the front rim as he was being grabbedby San Antonio guard Bruce Bowen.

After the contest, James refused to blame the loss on thenon-call, saying it was "incidental contact" and not the onlyreason for the defeat.

During Wednesday's media session, the All-Star swingman imploredhis team to "still believe," echoing the words of coach MikeBrown, who acknowledged that no team has ever come back from a3-0 deficit, but said there is a first time for everything.

Cleveland showed some fortitude in the opening period, taking a20-19 lead into the second quarter, despite 10 points from Spursspeedster Parker. The Cavaliers were led by James, who scoredsix points in the period, two on an emphatic slam to make it20-19 - only his second dunk of the series.

San Antonio pressed on in the second quarter, coming to life andoutscoring Cleveland, 20-14, in the period to take a 39-34 leadat halftime. However, the Spurs made headway without aneffective Duncan, who scored just two points in the first half,shooting 0-of-5 from the field and 2-of-6 from the free-throwline.

Duncan got going in the third for San Antonio, which outscoredCleveland, 21-18, in the period, precluding an exciting fourthquarter.

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

SAN ANTONIO (83) AT CLEVELAND (82)

SAN ANTONIO

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

B BOWEN F 42:08 1-6 0-0 1 4 5 3 4 0 0 2
T DUNCAN F 40:08 4-15 4-10 5 10 15 3 3 2 6 12
F OBERTO C 25:24 3-5 1-1 3 2 5 0 2 1 0 7
M FINLEY G 15:39 1-5 2-3 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4
T PARKER G 38:36 10-14 2-5 0 7 7 1 2 0 3 24
R HORRY 19:02 0-2 1-2 1 2 3 1 1 0 2 1
E GINOBILI 33:26 8-19 8-11 1 4 5 3 5 1 1 27
F ELSON 10:55 1-1 2-2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4
J VAUGHN 9:24 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 2
B BARRY 5:18 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 1 1 0 1 0
M BONNER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B UDRIH DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 29-68 20-34 11 34 45 13 19 5 14 83
(.426) (.588) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 14 (12 PTS)

CLEVELAND

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

L JAMES F 46:29 10-30 2-6 0 6 6 10 1 0 6 24
D GOODEN F 27:21 5-12 1-1 4 7 11 0 2 0 1 11
Z ILGAUSKAS C 25:48 3-8 2-2 5 8 13 1 3 0 1 8
S PAVLOVIC G 21:24 1-6 0-0 0 1 1 0 4 1 0 3
D GIBSON G 43:34 4-10 0-0 1 1 2 5 4 0 0 10
E SNOW 13:12 2-4 0-0 0 1 1 2 1 0 1 4
A VAREJAO 23:49 3-3 2-2 1 2 3 1 4 3 0 8
D MARSHALL 18:55 2-6 1-2 1 3 4 2 4 1 1 5
DA JONES 19:28 2-5 3-3 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 9
D WESLEY DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S POLLARD DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 32-84 11-16 12 30 42 23 24 5 10 82
(.381) (.688) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 10 (8 PTS)

SAN ANTONIO 19 20 21 23 - 83
CLEVELAND 20 14 18 30 - 82

BLOCKED SHOTS: SAN ANTONIO - T DUNCAN 2. CLEVELAND - E SNOW, Z ILGAUSKAS.

3-PT. FIELD GOALS: SAN ANTONIO 5-19 (.263), B BOWEN 0-3, M FINLEY 0-
2, T PARKER 2-3, R HORRY 0-2, E GINOBILI 3-9. CLEVELAND 7-22 (.318),
L JAMES 2-7, S PAVLOVIC 1-2, D GIBSON 2-6, D MARSHALL 0-3, DA JONES 2-
4.
TECHNICAL FOULS: CLEVELAND - DEFENSIVE THREE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BENNETT SALVATORE, EDDIE F. RUSH, JOE FORTE.
A - 20,562. T - 2:44.</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

SAN ANTONIO (83)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
B Bowen 42:08 1-6 0-0 1-5 3 4 2
T Duncan 40:08 4-15 4-10 5-15 3 3 12
F Oberto 25:24 3-5 1-1 3-5 0 2 7
M Finley 15:39 1-5 2-3 0-2 0 0 4
T Parker 38:36 10-14 2-5 0-7 1 2 24
R Horry 19:02 0-2 1-2 1-3 1 1 1
E Ginobili 33:26 8-19 8-11 1-5 3 5 27
F Elson 10:55 1-1 2-2 0-0 0 0 4
J Vaughn 9:24 1-1 0-0 0-1 1 1 2
B Barry 5:18 0-0 0-0 0-2 1 1 0
M Bonner DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B Udrih DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 29-68 20-34 11-45 13 19 83
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.426, FT-.588. 3-Point Goals:
5-19, .263 (B Bowen 0-3, M Finley 0-2, T
Parker 2-3, R Horry 0-2, E Ginobili 3-9).
Team Rebounds: 12. Blocked Shots:2 (T Duncan
2). Turnovers:14 (T Duncan 6, T Parker 3, R
Horry 2, B Barry, E Ginobili, F Elson).
Steals: 5 (T Duncan 2, E Ginobili, F Elson, F
Oberto).


CLEVELAND (82)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
L James 46:29 10-30 2-6 0-6 10 1 24
D Gooden 27:21 5-12 1-1 4-11 0 2 11
Z Ilgauskas 25:48 3-8 2-2 5-13 1 3 8
S Pavlovic 21:24 1-6 0-0 0-1 0 4 3
D Gibson 43:34 4-10 0-0 1-2 5 4 10
E Snow 13:12 2-4 0-0 0-1 2 1 4
A Varejao 23:49 3-3 2-2 1-3 1 4 8
D Marshall 18:55 2-6 1-2 1-4 2 4 5
Da Jones 19:28 2-5 3-3 0-1 2 1 9
D Wesley DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Pollard DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 32-84 11-16 12-42 23 24 82
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.381, FT-.688. 3-Point Goals:
7-22, .318 (L James 2-7, S Pavlovic 1-2, D
Gibson 2-6, D Marshall 0-3, Da Jones 2-4).
Team Rebounds: 11. Blocked Shots:2 (E Snow, Z
Ilgauskas). Turnovers:10 (L James 6, E Snow,
D Marshall, Z Ilgauskas, D Gooden). Steals: 5
(A Varejao 3, D Marshall, S Pavlovic).

-------------------------------------------
SAN ANTONIO 19 20 21 23 - 83
CLEVELAND 20 14 18 30 - 82
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Cleveland - 1 (Defensive
Three, 7:45 1st).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 20,562. T: 2:44.
Officials: Bennett Salvatore, Eddie F. Rush,
Joe Forte.</div>

 

NBA: SAN ANTONIO at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA SAN ANTONIO AT CLEVELAND
NOTE: RESENDING BOX TO CORRECT MINUTES PLAYED AND TIME
OF GAME.</div>

 

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- It was a fitting ending to the series forthe relentless San Antonio Spurs, who made sure LeBron James andthe Cleveland Cavaliers will have to wait at least one moreyear to claim the throne.

Tony Parker scored 24 points en route to winning MVP honors andTim Duncan added 12 and 15 rebounds as the Spurs used a decisivefourth quarter for an 83-82 victory over the Cavaliers andtheir fourth NBA championship since 1999.

Manu Ginobili added 27 points for the Spurs, who completed theirfirst sweep in the NBA Finals, eighth in league history andfirst since the Los Angeles Lakers had their way with the NewJersey Nets in 2002.

"You know, it was a tough close-out," Duncan said. "Guys likeMike (Finley) is what it's all about. To win a championship, tosee how much he appreciates its, to see Jacque Vaughn and evenRobert Horry, to see the looks on their face and theunderstanding of how special and how tough it is to get here.It makes it all worth it."

"I'm definitely going to remember 2007," Parker said. "It's agreat year. I don't know what I did, but it's been a greatyear."

It now can be argued that San Antonio is a legitimate dynasty,joining the Boston Celtics (16), Lakers (14) and Chicago Bulls(six) as the only teams in league history to win at least fourchampionships.

"They are all different. Each championship has a personality ofits own," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "It's got a fewdifferent people involved in it. Obviously, watching Tim Duncanbe a common thread through it all is especially satisfying andamazing to me that he's able to do what he does with thatgroup."

The Spurs withstood a frantic run by Cleveland in the finalperiod, but then turned on the jets and sprinted to the finishline. Trailing, 60-52, heading into the fourth quarter, theCavaliers scored the first 11 points of the period to take a63-60 lead.

San Antonio then went on a 14-3 run, capped by Fabricio Oberto'slayup with two minutes left to make it 74-66. Time wouldbecome a factor as the Cavaliers poured in some points in thewaning seconds but it would be too little, too late.

"It made it sweeter for them to make a run, for us to answer,for us to keep our composure and to find a way to win, no matterwhat," Duncan said. "(The Cavaliers) played great in thatfourth quarter. They outscored us in the fourth quarter as theydid most of the series.

"We made plays, we just found a way to get it done."

It was more heavy lifting for James, who continued to getswarmed by an overloaded San Antonio defense. James, who had 24points and 10 assists on 10-of-30 shooting, also became afather for the second time early Thursday morning.

"(My performance) definitely could have been better," Jamessaid. "It could have been better in order for us to win. Youknow, if I don't play well, our team is not going to have achance to win. I've got a lot of things to work on to getbetter for next year."

It also was Cleveland's first four-game skid of the campaign.

"I'm just excited for what happened for our team this year,"James said. "You know, we gave it all. We did what we said,made it to the championship, try to win the championship."

But despite the elation in the "Alamo City," the Finals havebeen lacking significant juice - thanks in part to a surgicallyprecise San Antonio squad. It also has been a forgettable weekfor the NBA, which has seen some of its worst ratings for theFinals in league history.

Sunday's Game Two went up against the finale of HBO's popularmob drama "The Sopranos," and with James - one of the faces ofthe NBA - in his first championship series, the league washoping for more.

But San Antonio made sure to stop the hype quickly.

"It starts with Pop," Parker said. "The fact that he never letus get comfortable. He's always behind us, like, 'Come on, come<div class="pre">on, focus, focus.' I think it carries on. Every day in</div>practice we just get that mentality."

After two demoralizing defeats in Games One and Two, theCavaliers returned home for their first NBA Finals home game infranchise history. With a rabid fan base spurring it on,Cleveland finally played a competitive game - even if it was anugly contest - but dropped a rugged 75-72 decision on Tuesday.

James had a chance to tie the game on its controversial finalplay. The young superstar hoisted a potential game-tying3-pointer that skimmed off the front rim as he was being grabbedby San Antonio guard Bruce Bowen.

After the contest, James refused to blame the loss on thenon-call, saying it was "incidental contact" and not the onlyreason for the defeat.

It was more of the same in another close defeat on Thursday.

"You're definitely disappointed," James said. "I'm notdisappointed in our effort the last two games, not at all. Ithink we played well. We definitely just faced a better team inthis series, simple as that."

During Wednesday's media session, the All-Star swingman imploredhis team to "still believe," echoing the words of coach MikeBrown, who acknowledged that no team has ever come back from a3-0 deficit, but said there is a first time for everything.

But it did not work out that way, and Brown admitted that it wasjust too much from the Spurs.

"You've got to give San Antonio credit," he said. "It's a(heck) of a team. They did everything they needed to do inorder to win basketball games, (Thursday) and the three gamesbefore."

Cleveland showed some fortitude in the opening period, taking a20-19 lead into the second quarter, despite 10 points from Spursspeedster Parker. The Cavaliers were led by James, who scoredsix points in the period, two on an emphatic slam to make it20-19 - only his second dunk of the series.

San Antonio pressed on in the second quarter, coming to life andoutscoring Cleveland, 20-14, in the period to take a 39-34 leadat halftime. However, the Spurs made headway without aneffective Duncan, who scored just two points in the first half,shooting 0-of-5 from the field and 2-of-6 from the free-throwline.

Duncan got going in the third for San Antonio, which outscoredCleveland, 21-18, in the period, precluding an exciting fourthquarter.