The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Miami Heat in five games to win the NBA Championship.
The victory marks the Spurs’ fifth NBA title, and the first NBA Finals victory since 2007. All four of San Antonio’s wins were earned by margins of at least 15 points.
Small forward Kawhi Leonard was named the series’ Most Valuable Player, leading the Spurs in scoring in each of the series’ final three games. Leonard became the second-youngest Finals MVP of all time behind Magic Johnson, who first won the award in his rookie season in 1980.
The series was a rematch of the 2013 NBA Finals, where the Heat defeated the Spurs, four games to three. It was also the third Finals meeting between team captains Tim Duncan and LeBron James, who had each won one championship against the other.
The first game of the series, which took place at the Spurs’ AT &T Center, was beset by arena temperatures of over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, James did not play in the fourth quarter due to cramps. Meanwhile, the Spurs shot 19 of 21 from the field, winning the game 110–95.
James and the Heat responded in Game Two, as the Akron, Ohio native posted a team-leading 35 points and 10 rebounds. Chris Bosh hit a go-ahead three-point field goal with just over a minute remaining to pull Miami to a 98–96 victory.
Game Three and Game Four, both of which took place in Miami, resulted in the Spurs pulling ahead with consecutive victories of 111–92 and 107–86. The Spurs were led by young small forward Kawhi Leonard, who led his team in both games with 29 and 20 points, respectively.
The series returned to San Antonio for the fifth game of the series, with the Spurs holding an advantage of three games to one. The game opened on a 22–6 run by the Heat, as James recorded 17 points in the first quarter. However, the Spurs retaliated as they pulled ahead in the second quarter and extended their lead in the third. The Heat made an attempt at a comeback in the fourth quarter, but were unable to catch up, as the Spurs won the fifth and final contest, 104–87.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich claims his fifth NBA title as a head coach. All five of his championships have come from his career with San Antonio, where he has been the head coach since 1996.
Featured Image Credit: NBA.com
