By Paul Levine May 20, 2006, 16:15 GMT
Los Angeles - Former Dallas Mavericks star Michael Finley came back to silence the boos in the house that once cheered him and keep the San Antonio Spurs alive.
Dallas Maverick's Dirk Nowitzki (R), drives to the basket around San Antonio Spurs' Michael Finley (L) during the first half of game 6 of the second round of NBA playoffs at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas Friday, 19 May 2006. EPA/REX C. CURRY
Finley fired in the go-ahead 3-pointer and forced Dirk Nowitzki to miss the potential game-tying triple with 6.9 seconds left as the visiting Spurs edged the Mavericks 91-86 Friday night to square their Western Conference series at three-games apiece.
'We're thrilled to get out here with a victory, but the game belonged to either team,' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
Argentine Manu Ginobili led San Antonio with 30 points and 10 rebounds while foul-plagued Tim Duncan finished with 24 and eight rebounds.
The defending champion Spurs host deciding game seven in the attempt to become just the ninth team to ever win a playoff series history after trailing 3-1.
'It's going to be one game, the emotions are going to be there,' Duncan said. 'It's going to come down to who shows up, and who makes shots down the stretch.'
For eight seasons, Finley was a favourite before the Mavericks released him. Some fans shout 'traitor' when he comes back to the American Airlines Centre these days.
'It was unfortunate, especially in a place where I gave my all for eight years, blood and guts on the court,' said Finley, who finished with 16 points. 'To hear the boos is kind of disheartening.
'Now that they're booing me more it makes me the enemy and it makes me go out and play harder. I just made a negative into positive.'
Finley, who took a low blow in a scramble late in game five from Jason Terry, earning the Dallas guard a one game suspension, hit back with timely plays at both ends of the court.
He silenced the crowd with a 3-pointer from the right corner with 2:45 left to put the Spurs ahead, 85-82.
After Ginobili's two free throws put the Spurs ahead, 89-86 with 15 seconds left, Finley forced Nowitzki into missing a tough 3-point try from the right corner that would have tied the game. Frenchman Tony Parker grabbed the rebound and made two free throws with 5.5 seconds left to wrap up the win.
'Dirk's the type of player that makes tough shots,' Finley said. 'Unfortunately, for them, he missed the one at the end.'
Nowitzki scored 26 points and grabbed a franchise-playoff record 21 rebounds for Dallas, which will take another shot at reaching the conference finals for the second time since 1988.
'We didn't want to go back to San Antonio, but there's nothing we can do about it now except prepare for Monday,' Nowitzki said. 'It's do-or die game.'
Elsewhere:
Detroit Pistons 84, Cleveland Cavaliers 82: With their season on the line, the battle-tested Pistons had the ball bounce their way down the stretch to avoid elimination.
Rasheed Wallace scored 24 points and the Pistons survived the Cavaliers to knot their Eastern Conference semifinal series at three games apiece.
'It was a must win for us because if we lose we're done,' said Pistons coach Flip Saunders, whose club improved to 9-2 all-time in elimination games.
Winners of the 2004 NBA Championship and runner-up to San Antonio last year, Detroit will host game seven on Sunday for the right to meet the well-rested Miami Heat.
'I just hope they can match our energy level,' Wallace said. 'It's going to be bananas at our place.'
Richard Hamilton netted 17 points and Chauncey Billups 15 for the Pistons, who relied on their offensive rebounding down the stretch to escape with the victory.
LeBron James had 32 points 11 rebounds for Cleveland, which will get a second opportunity to advance to its first conference final since 1992.
'Nobody ever thought we would be in a game seven against the Pistons,' James said. 'We proved doubters wrong, so it's time to prove some more wrong and get a win on Sunday.'
With Detroit clinging to an 83-81 lead, Wallace missed two free throws with 15 seconds left but Cavaliers Flip Murray was unable to control the rebound. Ben Wallace tipped it out to Billups, who was fouled. He made the first free throw and missed the second to make it a three-point game with 10 ticks left.
James took the rebound but instead of calling a timeout, he raced down-court and was fouled before sending a cross-court pass over to Murray in the right corner with 1.4 seconds to play.
Needing three points to tie, James hit the first free throw and intentionally missed the second. Billups soared in from the left side to grab the rebound, but nearly tipped it in as time expired.
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