Tim Duncan scored 25 points and had 11 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs captured the NBA championship with a 81-74 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game Seven of the Finals on Thursday.
The Spurs took the best-of-seven series 4-3 in winning their third title in the seven seasons and Duncan was rewarded for his efforts by being named Finals MVP.
San Antonio also won the title in 1999 and 2003.
After four blow-out games to start the series, the teams played their third straight nail-bitter, which was close throughout in the first Game Seven in the Finals since 1994.
Manu Ginobili added 22 points for the Spurs, while Robert Horry added 15 as he won his sixth NBA championship ring.
Horry was quick to tell courtside reporters the key to 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," he said
"We just played a great team," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said, praising the Pistons.
"I don't know how the hell we did it, but I'm thrilled."
The Spurs finally pulled away in the fourth quarter, out-scoring Detroit 24-17 to trigger wild celebrations in the packed stands at the SBC Center.
"I couldn't be happier," Ginobili said.
"I need another body to feel it. I'm just so proud of this team, this city," the Argentine guard added.
"They played great, you have to give them credit," Detroit coach Larry Brown said.
"I thought [Tim] Duncan was spectacular as well. The better team won. I'm proud of my guys."
SCORING TROUBLE
Richard Hamilton had 15 points, Chauncey Billups had 13 points and Ben Wallace added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the defending champion Pistons, but the team's top shooters had off-nights against a stifling Spurs defense.
Both teams appeared tight in the first half and had trouble scoring, with the Spurs ahead 18-16 after one quarter.
The Pistons rallied to lead 39-38 at the intermission, with the first half featuring nine lead changes and 11 ties. 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 its biggest lead of the game, 48-39, with 7:40 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 2:54 left giving 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.
"This trophy is definitely an honour, but this team has so many MVPs," Duncan said.
"We fought for this thing. It was incredible."
