By Ron Griffitts
Contributing columnist
In 2014, the San Antonio Spurs (62-20) coached by Gregg Popovich and with as their government R. T. Buford met the Miami Warmth (54-28) coached by Erik Spoelstra and with government Pat Riley.
The Spurs defeated the Dallas Mavericks (4-3), the Portland Path Blazers (4-1) and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (4-2) within the western convention finals for the proper to face the Warmth within the finals. They have been led by Tony Parker (16.7 ppg, 5.7 apg), Tim Duncan (15.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg), Kawhi Leonard (12.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Marco Belinelli (11.4 ppg) and Tiago Splitter (6.2 rpg).
The Warmth bought previous the Charlotte Bobcats (4-0), the Brooklyn Nets (4-1) and the Indiana Pacers (4-2) within the jap convention finals to face San Antonio for the NBA title.
They have been led by LeBron James (27.1 ppg, 6.3 apg, 6.9 rpg), Dwayne Wade (19.0 ppg, 4.7 apg, 4.5 rpg), Chris Bosh (16.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg), Mario Chalmers (4.9 apg) and Chris Andersen (5.3 rpg).
Sport one happened within the AT&T Heart in San Antonio, Texas with the Warmth holding a 78-74 lead on the three quarter mark however the Spurs outscored Miami 36-19 within the fourth quarter for a 110-95 win.
Tim Duncan led the winners with 21 factors and 10 rebounds whereas Manu Ginobili got here off the bench so as to add 11 assists and rating 16 factors. LeBron James paced the Warmth with 25 factors.
In recreation two the Warmth, behind 35 factors and 10 rebounds from LeBron James, pulled out a 98-96 victory to tie the sequence at one recreation every. Tony Parker with 21 factors and Tim Duncan with 18 and 15 rebounds and Boris Daw with 10 rebounds led the Spurs.
For recreation three, the groups moved to the AmericanAirlines Area in Miami, Florida and the Spurs used a powerful 41-25 benefit within the first quarter to hold them to a 111-92 win to take a 2-1 lead within the sequence.
Kawhi Leonard led San Antonio with 29 factors whereas Dwayne Wade and LeBron James led the Warmth with 22 factors every.
Once more in recreation 4, San Antonio bought off to a powerful begin and stored the stress on for a 107-86 win to take a 3 video games to 1 sequence lead.
Kawhi Leonard once more led with 20 factors and 14 rebounds whereas Tim Duncan added 10 rebounds for the profitable Spurs whereas LeBron James led Miami with 28 factors.
In recreation 5, making an attempt to keep away from elimination, the Warmth bought out to a 29-22 begin within the first quarter of play however the Spurs dominated 25-11 and 30-18 within the second and third quarters on their solution to a 104-87 to win the sport and the NBA title.
Kawhi Leonard continued his robust play with 22 factors and 10 rebounds and was awarded the sequence MVP award. LeBron James led Miami with 31 factors and 10 rebounds.
The Miami Warmth returned to the NBA finals in 2020 whereas the San Antonio Spurs haven’t been again to the finals since 2014. Each LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard returned as finals’ MVPs-James with Cleveland in 2016 and the Lakers in 2020, and Leonard in 2019 for the Toronto Raptors.
For LeBron James, that was his fourth consecutive last and he went on to be within the subsequent 4 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, making his consecutive whole eight and his whole finals appearances ten.
Statistics for this text have been from basketball-reference.com.
Originally posted 2023-05-27 12:00:00.