Spurs Put Cavs in 2-0 Hole

Jun 11, 05:00 AM

Current Headlines: By David DuPree

SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs, with their big three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili each dominating the game Sunday, took control of the NBA Finals.

With Duncan unstoppable inside, Parker penetrating at will and Ginobili doing a little bit of everything, the Spurs roared to a huge early lead and then held on for a 103-92 win and a 2-0 series lead.

Parker finished with 30 points, Duncan 23 and Ginobili 25, including 4-for-6 from three-point range and 11-for-11 from the free throw line.

The Cavaliers scored the game's first two points but never led again. The Spurs led by as many as 28 in the first half and 29 in the third period before the Cavs outscored them 30-14 in the final period, cutting the lead to eight.

"We knew it was coming," Parker said of the Cavs' run. "They're an NBA team, and they have LeBron James."

James was more active than he was in the series opener but got into early foul trouble and didn't get into a groove until late in the game. He finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

The series now shifts to Cleveland for the next three games in the 2-3-2 NBA Finals format. Game 3 is Tuesday.

"We're still confident," James said. "We have to find a way to carry the intensity we had in the fourth quar-ter into Game 3."

Parker, the leading scorer in the series averaging 28.5 points, expects the Cavaliers to be even tougher at home.

"We have to stay focused. We saw what happened in the fourth quarter," Parker said. "They're going to play better at home. They're going to be more confident. They're going to shoot better.

"We have to learn from our mistakes. When you get a big lead, you don't play with the same intensity. We can't let them outwork us."

The Cavaliers have been in this position before. They lost the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals on the road against the Detroit Pistons and came back to win the next four and get to the NBA Finals for the first time.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he was disappointed at the way his team ended the game, "but we're in the playoffs; we're in the Finals. We got a win, and we're thrilled about that." (c) Copyright 2005 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.