Playoffs results
SAN ANTONIO (NBA) - With their reign as NBA champions on the line, the San Antonio Spurs finally got the break they needed as they held on for a season-saving 98-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the Western Conference semi-finals.
Tim Duncan was again unstoppable with 36 points and 12 rebounds for the top-seeded Spurs, who still face a 3-2 deficit in the series.
But for the first time since Game One, the Spurs were not let down by their defence.
A free throw by Manu Ginobili, who scored 18 points, gave the Spurs a 98-97 lead with 1:59 remaining, and neither team scored again. With 1:08 to go, Ginobili stole the ball from Jason Terry.
The Mavericks got back the ball and went to Dirk Nowitzki, who had 31 points and 10 rebounds. But the seven-footer had his foul-line jumper smothered by Bruce Bowen.
A jump ball was called with 6.3 seconds left. Nowitzki won the tip to Terry, who was tied up by Ginobili with 3.4 seconds to go as he tried to call a timeout.
The ensuing jump ball wound up in the hands of Dallas forward Josh Howard, who did call timeout with 2.4 seconds remaining. The Mavericks then went to Terry, whose fallaway jumper was an airball that Nowitzki could not follow up as the horn sounded.
Tony Parker scored 27 points and Michael Finley added 12 for the Spurs, who shot 54 % (37-of-69) from the field. Duncan made 13-of-19 shots, including his first 12.
Howard scored 16 points and Terry and Devin Harris added 15 apiece for the Mavericks, who shot 51% (39-of-77) and get another chance at home in Game Six on Friday.
LeBron James was once more in sparkling form as the Cleveland Cavaliers moved to the threshold of the Eastern Conference finals with an 86-84 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
James poured in 32 points for the Cavaliers, who beat the top-seeded Pistons for the third straight game to take a stunning 3-2 series lead.
In the play-offs for the first time in eight years, the Cavaliers never trailed in the second half and answered every charge by the Pistons.
Cleveland made just 7-of-21 shots in the first quarter but were level at 20-20 thanks to six blocks, including four by Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
Then James really got going in the second period with 12 points as the Cavaliers opened a 50-45 half-time lead from which they never looked back.
Donyell Marshall had 14 points and 13 rebounds while Ilgauskas added 14 and 10 before fouling out for the Cavaliers, who shot just 38% (31-of-81) from the field but blocked 10 shots.
Tayshaun Prince scored 21 points, Chauncey Billups added 17 and Richard Hamilton 15 for the Pistons, who shot 43% (32-of-75) but committed 17 turnovers.
PA Sport