Game 5 - A New Star is Born?

Danny Green had another huge game. This time he scored 24 points, making 6 of 10 from downtown, and he added 3 blocks. But the leader of the Spurs is still Tony Parker. Parker is playing with a significant hamstring injury and yet, he scored a game-high 26 points on a ridiculous 10 for 14 shooting from the field. He was able to contort in the lane and sink his remarkable floaters.

The Spurs led wire to wire although Miami put up a decent fight. The Heat kept crawling back into the game. In the second quarter, the Spurs led by 17, but Miami scored 12 in a row. Midway through the fourth, the Spurs had extended the lead to 20, but Miami cut it to single digits.

If the Heat were leading, the story of the Finals would be Dwyane Wade's resurgence. He struggled with injuries for much of an up-and-down season. There have been times in the playoffs in which he has disappeared. But Wade added another 25 points and 10 assists in Game 5. LeBron added a quiet 25 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals. But a missed layup in transition that led to a Parker floater on the other end will likely be what LeBron is remembered for in Game 5.

Ray Allen had a hot fourth and ended with 21 points. Perhaps, he was sparked by seeing his record for most three-pointers in a Finals series go down. Danny Green raced by Allen's old mark in Game 5. Chris Bosh added 16 for the Heat.


For the Spurs, Green was great, Parker was amazing, Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard were also quite valuable (scoring 17 and 16 respectively). But Manu Ginobili's play likely carried the Spurs to this crucial Game 5 victory. Ginobili had been looking all of his 35 years in this series. He finally snapped out of his slump and scored 24 points on 8 for 14 shooting. Many of his makes were incredible awkward shots that deflated Miami's defensive will.

The Spiurs shot a remarkable 60% from the field, although 18 turnovers hurt their output. San Antonio won 114-104, taking a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 will be ion Miami and, if necessary, so will Game 7.