体坛英语新闻：GDP, Green carry Spurs past Heat on Game 5

SAN ANTONIO, June 16 (Xinhua) -- San Antonio Spurs was leading again. The Western title holder outscored defending champion Miami Heat 114-104 because of the outstanding performance of GDP (Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker) and shooter Danny Green, moving within one win to their fifth NBA title.

It was Ginobili's first starting in more than one year. The 11-year veteran, who had scored a total of 30 points in the first four games, rewarded Spurs coach Gregg Popovich with 24 points and 10 assists. "Tonight he played his best game in a while," said Popovich after the game.

Spurs point guard Tony Parker wasn't 100% of himself because of injured hamstring, but the former Finals MVP astonished the opponents, as well as his teammates, with a team high 26 points, including a crucial basket after the Heat cutting the gap to nine with two minutes left.

Duncan's 17-point-and-12-rebound "double-double" helped Spurs "Big Three" total 67 points, one more than Heat's "Big Three"(LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh).

Green had a big night for himself. The second-round-picked shooting guard made six out of his ten three point attempts to finish a 24-point game. He totaled 25 three pointers through the five games, surpassing Ray Allen (22 in 2008 Finals) to set an new NBA Finals record.

"I've been getting lucky," said Green about his record. "I was moving around a lot."

"Our transition helps us, our pace. Tony penetrating and Manu penetrating, making the defense collapse is the reason why I've been getting open."

The Spurs wonderfully opened the game with Ginobili in the starting lineup. His seven points gave the host team a 15-10 lead. Parker and Duncan stood out afterwards, and the Spurs closed the first quarter 32-19 after a 15-2 spurt.

James and Wade led Heat to move within five into the second quarter, only to see Parker's layup awarding the Spurs a nine-point advantage by the end of the first half.

The defending champion delivered a 8-0 run in the third quarter, trailing only by one with more than ten minutes left.

The Spurs tried to establish a handsome lead again, but the Heat moved again to trail 75-74 with 2:54 minutes to go. Ginobili took the big stage at the moment, knocking down 7 points in the Spurs' 12-1 run to finish the third quarter 87-75.

The Spurs dashed away to as far as 96-76 in the final period. The Heat refused an early surrender, cutting the gap to nine points with two minutes left, but their hope was ruined after Parker and Green pocketing five points to seal the victory.

"We missed a couple of shots that we normally are accustomed to making, and then it just snowballed down the hill," said Heat coach Eric Spoelstra.

"We couldn't control it."

James and Wade had 25 points apiece for the Heat, and Ray Allen contributed 21.

Of the previous 27 times the Finals have been tied at 2-2, the winner of Game Five has gone on to win the series 20 times.

Game Six is scheduled on Tuesday in Miami.