By Paul Levine May 18, 2006, 14:54 GMT
Los Angeles - Facing elimination, Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs were not ready to go on vacation just yet.
San Antonio Spurs player Tony Parker (R) celebrates with teammate Tim Duncan (L) after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half during game 5 of the Western Conference Playoffs, Semifinals at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas Wednesday, 17 May 2006. San Antonio won 98-97. EPA/LARRY W. SMITH
Duncan matched an NBA post-season record by hitting his first 12 shots en route to 36 points along with 12 rebounds as the Spurs stayed alive with a thrilling 98-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in game five Wednesday night in their Western Conference semi-final series.
The Spurs trail 3-2 and face another elimination game as the best of seven series shifts to Dallas on Friday night for game six.
'It was a great win for us tonight,' said Duncan, who finished 13- of-19 from the field. 'Of course, it's do-or-die right now. We did our job and we want to go back to Dallas. We've had two really tough losses there. We're really confident going into their building and have to get another one.'
Frenchman Tony Parker scored 27 points and Argentine Manu Ginobili added 18 for the defending champion Spurs, who look to become just the ninth team to ever overcome a 3-1 playoff deficit.
German wunderkind Dirk Nowitzki had 31 points and 10 rebounds for Dallas, which will get a second chance to advance to the conference finals.
'We gave it our best shot and it wasn't enough,' Nowitzki said. 'Now we have to go home and win a big game. We feel good about our chances.'
With the game knotted at 97, Ginobili split a pair of free throws with 1:59 left that turned out to be the game-winner in a wild ending.
Nowitzki looked to give Dallas the lead with a 10-foot jumper in the lane but Bruce Bowen came from behind to tie him up with 6.3 seconds left. Nowitzki won the jump ball, and back-tapped where Jason Terry and Ginobili dove for the loose ball, resulting in another jump ball.
The tip went over to Dallas' Josh Howard, who called timeout. With 3.4 ticks remaining, Terry got the ball on the right sideline but overshot the basket on a tough jumper with Ginobili defending. Nowitzki got the ball under the basket but rushed the follow shot as time expired.
'I didn't know how much time there was, so I tried to bat it up,' Nowitzki offered. 'Looking back at it now, I probably had the time to catch it and lay it up. But you're a lot smarter afterwards.'
Elsewhere:
Cleveland Cavaliers 86, Detroit Pistons 84: The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the defensive-minded Detroit Pistons at their own game down the stretch to move one game from the Eastern Conference finals.
LeBron James scored 32 points and found Drew Gooden for the game- winning lay-up with 28 seconds remaining to give the Cavaliers a stunning road victory in Game Five for a 3-2 lead in their semifinal series.
'We knew they would make a run,' James said. 'Once again, we found a way to win, and that was on the defensive end.'
Cleveland can wrap up the series at home on Friday night.
'We feel good that we're up 3-2 but we can't feel comfortable about this,' James said. 'They've been down before, so we just have to continue to play with great effort, we've been playing the last three games in our house and try to win the game.'
Cleveland's Donyell Marshall had 14 points and 13 rebounds while Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 14 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks before fouling out in the final minute.
Tayshaun Prince scored 21 points and Chauncey Billups had 17 before fouling out with just over two minutes to pace Detroit, which dropped three straight for the first time this season.
The Pistons won the NBA title in 2004 and finished runner-up to San Antonio last year but they face elimination.
'I'm still not concerned because I know what we're capable of,' Billups said. 'We've been there before and we'll be ready for Friday.'
After a layup by Antonio McDyess knotted the game at 84, the Pistons failed to take their first lead of the game, when Ben Wallace missed both free throws with 40 seconds left.
At the other end, James coolly spotted Gooden for the go-ahead lay-up.
After a timeout, Prince had his short hook shot in the lane swatted away by Marshall. Lindsey Hunter missed jumper and James batted the rebound out to teammate Eric Snow, who tossed the ball down the court to kill time.
The Pistons ran the ball down and called timeout to set a final play. Richard Hamilton got the ball at the left baseline but bobbled it without getting off a shot.
'We trapped the ball and gave Hamilton no air space, no way he could get around us,' James said. 'It was a great defensive play and that's why we've been winning.'
Your Talkback on this Story