Spurs Hit Dynasty's Doorstep

Jun 13, 05:00 AM

Current Headlines: By David DuPree

CLEVELAND -- The San Antonio Spurs moved a step closer to establishing themselves as the pre-eminent professional sports dynasty of the era Tuesday as they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 75-72 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

But it certainly was an ugly win as the Cavaliers shot 36.7% and the Spurs 41.2% in one of the lowest-scoring NBA Finals games ever.

"It was 40-38 at half, wasn't it?" Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "We set the Western world of offensive basketball back 10 years. We ended up being fortunate enough to win the game, so we're thrilled about it."

After having won their first title in 1999, the Spurs can win their third crown in five seasons Thursday. No team in any of the four major team sports has won more than three titles in the last 10 seasons.

In that span, the New York Yankees have won three World Series, but none since 2000; the New England Patriots have won three Super Bowls, the last in 2005; and the Detroit Red Wings have won three Stanley Cups, the last in 2002.

If the Cavaliers can avoid being swept, Game 5 -- under the NBA Finals' 2-3-2 format -- will also be at Cleveland. But no team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series in any round.

"We can't live on history," said Cleveland's LeBron James, who led all scorers with 25 points, 12 in the fourth period. "But at the same time we dug ourselves a big hole, and we know that."

Duncan, who had 14 points, said being up 3-0 won't change how the Spurs approach Game 4. "We need to get one more," he said. "That's it. We'll come out and try to finish it then. If it takes one more or two more, we're willing to do that."

There has only been one Finals sweep in the last 12 seasons, in 2002, when the Los Angeles Lakers won their third consecutive championship in four games against the New Jersey Nets.

The 147 points tied the second-lowest Finals score. The Spurs beat the New York Knicks 80-67 in 1999. The lowest: Fort Wayne beat Syracuse 74-71 in 1955.

"It was like a caterpillar before it becomes a butterfly," said Spurs guard Brent Barry, who was 3-for-4 from three-point range. "It was just really ugly. It's really a Spurs-like win -- grind it out, play 48 minutes." (c) Copyright 2005 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.