Basketball: Spurs net nailbiter to clinch NBA title

SAN ANTONIO - Tim Duncan scored 25 points and had 11 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs captured the NBA championship with an 81-74 victory over the Detroit Pistons in game seven of the finals yesterday.

The Spurs took the best-of-seven series 4-3. It was their third title in the last seven seasons, following success in 1999 and 2003.

Duncan was rewarded for his efforts by being named the most valued player of the finals.

After four blowout games to start the series, the teams played their third straight nailbiter, which was close throughout in the first game seven in the finals since 1994.

Manu Gumboil added 22 points for the Spurs, while Robert Horry scored 15 as he won his sixth NBA championship ring.

Horry was quick to tell the story of their victory: "Turnovers. We didn't turn the ball over tonight like we did in all the other games. We took care of the ball. We got great shots."

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich added: "We played a great team. I don't know how the hell we did it, but I'm thrilled."

The Spurs finally pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Detroit 24-17.

"They played great, you have to give them credit," Detroit coach Larry Brown said. "I thought Tim Duncan was spectacular."

Richard Hamilton had 15 points, Chauncey Billups 13 and Ben Wallace added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, the defending champions, but the team's top shooters had off-nights against a stifling Spurs defence.

Both teams appeared tight in the first half, with the Spurs ahead 18-16 after one quarter. The Pistons rallied to lead 39-38 at halftime, and the biggest lead in the half for either team was just six points.

However, the Pistons were in foul trouble early, and by the first minute of the second half already had several players with multiple fouls, including four to Rasheed Wallace.

Detroit took their biggest lead of the game, 48-39, with seven minutes and 40 seconds to go in the third quarter, but the Spurs rallied after trailing for most of the period and, cheered on by their boisterous home crowd, had the game tied 57-57 with a quarter remaining.

San Antonio never trailed in the fourth, and a Ginobili three-pointer with two minutes and 54 seconds remaining gave the Spurs their biggest lead of the game, 72-65.

Duncan's MVP award was his third and it put him level with Shaquille O'Neal and Magic Johnson.

Michael Jordan leads the list with six.

* New Zealander Sean Marks, a member of the Spurs outfit, won a championship ring, though he was not on the finals roster.

He played in 23 games this season.

- REUTERS