San Antonio, Texas, June 16: Tim Duncan hit a game high 21 points as the San Antonio Spurs staged a stirring fourth quarter rally to capture their second NBA championship in five years with an 88-77 win over the New Jersey Nets. For much of last night, the championship appeared headed for a deciding game seven, the Spurs waiting until deep into the final quarter before taking their first lead of the night. With just over six minutes on the clock Stephen Jackson's three-pointer put San Antonio in front 73-72 and the Spurs would never trail again, riding a thundering wave of support from the capacity crowd of 18,797 to the title.
The playoff MVP in the Spurs run to the championship in 1999, Duncan was once again the key to victory, capping off another brilliant post-season with a game six triple-double (21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists).
That enabled him to add another most valuable player award to his burgeoning trophy case.

''We were down the entire game but we just kept playing'', Duncan said.

''It didn't matter what happened guys kept playing. We were all confident something would happen, that we would turn the game in our favour and it did.

''It's an incredible feeling. I don't think I've ever won a series at home in the playoffs. To be here and have an opportunity to win in front of our fans, give them a treat.

''It's great for them, it's great for us''.

As the final seconds ticked down on the SBC center clock, the crowd roared in deafening celebration, finally able to experience the euphoria of a championship victory first hand after watching the Spurs win their first title on the road in New York.

Patient Spurs fans had also spent this season celebrating from afar, their heroes closing out their first three other playoff series in Phoenix, Los Angeles and Dallas.

Bureau Report