MIAMI -- LeBron James is the best player in the NBA, but he still hasn't beaten Tony Parker and the Spurs in an NBA Finals game.
San Antonio stole Game 1 of the Finals Thursday night, beating the defending NBA champion Heat, 92-88, at AmericanAirlines Arena.
With the Spurs clinging to a two-point lead in the closing seconds, Parker dribbled at James, fell to one knee, got up, stepped under and banked in a tough 16-footer just before the 24-second shot clock expired. The clutch shot with 5.2 seconds left was the game's final basket.
Parker finished with 21 points, 10 in the fourth quarter. He also had six assists and no turnovers. Parker was the MVP of the 2007 Finals when the Spurs swept James' Cavaliers.
Tim Duncan had 20 points and 14 rebounds. Manu Ginobili added 13 points and North Babylon's Danny Green scored 12, including a huge three with 2:12 left to put the Spurs up seven.
James had 18 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists but shot just 7-for-16. Dwyane Wade had 17 points, but just four after halftime.
Game 2 is Sunday night here.
The Spurs showed little rust from having nine days off. When the game was on the line, they looked much fresher and executed better than the Heat, which went seven games in its Eastern Conference finals series against Indiana.
The Spurs didn't commit a turnover in the fourth quarter and had only four in the game. Miami totaled nine, but five came in the fourth period, when the Heat shot 5-for-18 and scored 16 points.
The Heat led by nine in the first half and seven in the third, but San Antonio kept coming at Miami and went ahead 81-78 after Parker spun and scored inside with 6:00 left in the game.
After Ray Allen's foul shot, Duncan tipped in an offensive rebound to give the Spurs an 83-79 lead with 5:27 left. It stayed that way until Parker hit a jumper that put San Antonio up six with 3:30 to go.
The Heat went nearly four minutes without a field goal but James ended that drought with a putback with 3:09 left to make it 85-81. Green gave the Spurs an 88-81 lead after knocking down his fourth three.
Later, with the Spurs up five, Green fouled Allen attempting a three. He hit the three foul shots and Miami got within 88-86 with 1:28 to go. After two foul shots by Duncan 20 seconds later, Chris Bosh misfired on a three and Green rebounded it.
After Parker's missed jumper, James hit two foul shots with 31.3 seconds left to cut it to 90-88. They were the Heat's last points.
The experience of being swept by the Spurs six years ago helped James become the NBA's best player and ultimately led him to Miami.
San Antonio exposed weaknesses in James' game and in the Cavaliers as a whole. They were a one-man show. James realized he would need much more help to win a championship. But he also understood he had to change some things about his game, too.
James wasn't nearly the outside shooter he is now. He's also developed a post game and is a more complete offensive player, one who can beat you in a variety of ways. But he still can't beat the Spurs by himself and will need help from his teammates.
Miami led by seven in the third and the Spurs quickly cut it to 60-59 midway through the quarter. Entering the fourth, Miami held a three-point edge, 72-69, but the Spurs were better in the fourth when it counted.
MIAMI — Tony Parker banked in a 16-footer with 5.2 seconds left for the last of his 21 points and the San Antonio Spurs stunned the Miami Heat 92-88 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night.
Tim Duncan had 20 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, and Manu Ginobili scored 13 points for the Spurs, who are in the finals for the first time since 2007 and are pursuing their fifth championship.
LeBron James had 18 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists for his 10th career playoff triple-double and Dwyane Wade scored 17 for the defending champion Heat. But James made just 7 of 16 shots and managed his lowest scoring output of the playoffs.
Kawhi Leonard deserves most of the credit for that, with the 6-7 wing player hounding James on the perimeter all night long and not backing down.
Game 2 is Sunday night in Miami.
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