NBA Finals - Manu para MVP

Play Of The Night

	Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images

Trailing 95-93 with 9.5 seconds left in overtime, the Spurs called timeout to set up a final play. With the Palace crowd on its feet and roaring like a jet engine, Robert Horry inbounded the ball to an open Manu Ginobili streaking along the baseline. Ginobili dribbled into the corner and seeing Rasheed Wallace coming over to double-team, rifled the ball back to a wide open Horry standing beyond the 3-point arc. Big Shot Rob nailed the clutch shot to give San Antonio the lead with 5.8 seconds left and silence the crowd. When Rip Hamilton misfired on a desperation shot over Tony Parker at the other end, the Spurs had a 3-2 series lead and Horry had one more memorable shot in his career highlight reel.

"The play was for me to take that shot, but then I saw Rasheed coming," Ginobili said "My first option in those moments was Robert. He's a winner. He's been in that situation so many times. Everyone knows what he does."

Courtside Confidential

	Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images

After getting blown out in Games 3 and 4, resurrecting memories of last year's four-game collapse to the Lakers, Manu Ginobili admitted Game 5 would define the Spurs. "I think it's a big test for this team," he said as he patiently answered questions for a large swarm of reporters gathered around his locker. "We're taking this game as if it's a Game 7. If you can't give everything you have [tonight], then you should be doing something else." Ginobili and the Spurs clearly passed with flying colors. Playing with far more energy and poise, they avoided the turnovers and second-chance points that killed them in the previous two games. San Antonio actually outrebounded Detroit 45-42, including 19-16 on the offensive end, and limited the Pistons to just a 9-8 edge in fast-break points. The Spurs still have some work to do back home to win the NBA title, but at least they won't have to hear about being soft for the next two days.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
Bruce Bowen, SF	44	4-8	2-5	0-0	0	5	5	3	1	0	3	4	10
Tim Duncan, FC	48	11-24	0-0	4-11	8	11	19	2	0	2	2	3	26
Nazr Mohammed, C	26	3-4	0-0	0-0	1	2	3	0	1	0	0	3	6
Manu Ginobili, SG	44	5-16	0-4	5-5	3	3	6	9	1	0	2	4	15
Tony Parker, PG	45	7-15	0-3	0-0	1	1	2	3	0	0	6	4	14
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
Brent Barry, G	22	1-3	1-2	0-0	1	1	2	0	0	1	0	3	3
Robert Horry, PF	32	7-12	5-6	2-3	5	2	7	2	0	0	3	5	21
Devin Brown, SG	4	0-0	0-0	1-2	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1
Tony Massenburg, FC	DNP COACH'S DECISION
Glenn Robinson, SF	DNP COACH'S DECISION
Rasho Nesterovic, C	DNP COACH'S DECISION
Beno Udrih, PG	DNP COACH'S DECISION
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
		38-82	8-20	12-21	19	26	45	20	3	3	16	26	96
		46.3%	40.0%	57.1%	Team TO (pts off): 17 (16)

DETROIT PISTONS
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
Tayshaun Prince, SF	48	5-10	0-1	0-0	3	6	9	3	3	1	1	3	10
Rasheed Wallace, FC	41	6-15	0-0	0-0	1	4	5	1	3	4	0	5	12
Ben Wallace, FC	48	4-9	0-0	5-6	5	7	12	1	0	4	2	1	13
Richard Hamilton, SG	49	7-15	0-0	1-2	1	3	4	2	0	0	5	5	15
Chauncey Billups, PG	44	11-26	2-7	10-11	3	2	5	7	0	0	1	2	34
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
Antonio McDyess, PF	17	4-6	0-0	1-2	3	3	6	1	0	2	1	3	9
Lindsey Hunter, PG	18	0-3	0-1	2-2	0	1	1	2	1	0	1	1	2
Elden Campbell, C	DNP COACH'S DECISION
Darvin Ham, SF	DNP COACH'S DECISION
Carlos Arroyo, PG	DNP COACH'S DECISION
Ronald Dupree, SF	DNP COACH'S DECISION
Darko Milicic, FC	DNP COACH'S DECISION
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
		37-84	2-9	19-23	16	26	42	17	7	11	11	20	95
		44.0%	22.2%	82.6%	Team TO (pts off): 12 (16)