LeBron leads Heat Past Spurs 103-100 in Overtime for Game 7 Finals Match up

LeBron James led a fourth-quarter charge as Miami battled back from the brink to beat San Antonio 103-100 in overtime to keep their season alive and force a deciding game seven in the dramatic NBA Finals.

The league MVP was unstoppable down the stretch and finished with 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as he rallied his team to a narrow victory in a tense Game six in Florida.

‘These are the two best teams in the league so that’s why there’s a Game seven and I’m happy to be a part of it.’ Mario Chalmers scored 20 points for Miami while Kawhi Leonard registered 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs. Tony Parker had 19 points and eight assists, but shot just 6 of 23 from the field.

Miami led 27-25 after the first quarter thanks to 10 points from Chalmers, including two 3-pointers.

Another jump shot from Chalmers with seven minutes remaining in the first half took his tally to 14 and stretched the Heat’s lead to 40-33. But San Antonio hit back with an 11-0 run that saw them lead 50-44 at half-time.

A 3-point shot from Manu Ginobili at the start of the third period continued San Antonio’s streak as they moved nine points in front.

It was a strong third quarter for the Spurs and they headed into the final period 75-65 ahead. Tim Duncan led San Antonio’s scoring with 30 points after three quarters.

Miami’s win sends the Finals into a seventh and deciding encounter, which will be played on Thursday night at the Heat’s American Airlines Arena.

James said: ‘If we were going to go down we would be leaving all our energy on the floor. I still made some critical plays as far as bad plays late in the fourth – a couple of turnovers and a couple of mistakes – but I could live with those mistakes when I know I gave it my all tonight

Miami chipped away at San Antonio’s lead and when James produced an emphatic block on Duncan before driving to the hoop for two points, the game was tied at 82-82 with just over six minutes to play.

Ray Allen sank a jump shot to put Miami ahead as San Antonio’s shooting went cold in the fourth period. The Spurs big two of Duncan and Parker were yet to score in the final quarter.

The French point guard was about to change that, though. Under pressure from the James, Parker stepped back and sank a 3-pointer to tie the match at 89 before driving at Chalmers on the next play to put the Spurs 91-89 ahead with 58 seconds to play.

James took the ball for Miami and he looked to back into the smaller man Parker and bully his way to the hoop.

LeBron lost the ball, though, and Ginobili went up the other end and made two free throws to open up a 93-89 lead.

James was back on the ball for Miami’s next play but his wild shot was way off and Ginobili was back at the free-throw line, where he made one of two.

It was desperation time for the Heat and it looked to be over when James missed a 3-point shot. But Miami recovered the rebound and it was second time lucky from long range for LeBron as he sank his shot to cut the Spurs’ lead to 94-92.

Leonard was next to the free-throw line for San Antonio and, after missing the first, the 21-year-old held his nerve, with the crowd breathing down his neck, to sink the second.

Miami had one last shot to force overtime and it was Allen who forced the extra period with a huge 3-pointer from the corner after a vital offensive rebound from Chris Bosh.

Parker tried to win the match for the Spurs with five seconds left on the clock, but he couldn’t find the target and the teams were locked at 95-95.

Leonard and Bosh traded baskets at the start of overtime before the Spurs man guard on target again. Parker then added a free throw to put San Antonio 100-97 ahead.

Miami responded yet again, though, and jump shots from Allen and James put them 101-100 ahead.

Ginobili tried one last drive at the bucket for San Antonio to steal victory but he was denied much to the fury of head coach Gregg Popovich, who wanted a foul called on the Argentine.

The reliable Allen stepped up to make two free throws and give the Heat some breathing space as they forced a Game seven.

San Antonio will rue their poor fourth quarter having built a strong lead and forced Miami onto the back foot. Duncan, after a strong start, failed to score in the fourth period or overtime while Parker struggled all night.