TORONTO, 21 May 2005 — Tim Duncan nailed the winning layup with a 0.5 seconds left on the clock to earn San Antonio a 98-96 win over the Seattle SuperSonics and send the Spurs into the Western Conference finals.
The Spurs took the best-of-seven semifinal 4-2 to move on to a western final match-up against either Phoenix or Dallas, who were to play Game Six of their series the next day with the Suns 3-2 up.
After struggling in the opening half, Duncan came to life after the intermission scoring 13 of his game high 26 points in the final quarter and adding nine rebounds, five assists and two block shots.
“I got a look and got the shot,” said Duncan, who was just 1-of-13 on field goal attempts entering the final quarter.
“These guys are a hell of a team, we’re just happy to get out of here with the win.
“They were very physical and they play hard. It was tough.”
Tony Parker and Robert Horry each had 14 points for the Spurs while Manu Ginobili had 13 points and seven assists, his biggest a laser pass to Duncan to the right of bucket for the winning shot as time ticked down.
Ray Allen led the SuperSonics with 25 points but watched as his potential game-winning jumper at the buzzer clanged off the rim deflating the raucous crowd inside a seething KeyArena.
In Indianapolis, Richard Hamilton nailed a game high 28 points as the Detroit Pistons returned to the Eastern Conference final with an 88-79 win over the Indiana Pacers, bringing the curtain down on Reggie Miller’s 18-year career.
The defending champions Pistons take the best-of-seven series 4-2 and face the Miami Heat for the Eastern Conference title.
While the game and the series went to the Pistons, the night belonged to Miller, who led the Pacers with 27 points in his farewell performance.
The 12th-leading scorer in NBA history, Miller played his entire career in a Pacers uniform, averaging 18.2 points over 1,389 regular season games but walked into retirement without having won a championship.
One of the best perimeter shooters the NBA has ever seen, the stylish guard received a standing ovation as he left the Conseco Fieldhouse, the crowd chanting “one more year”.
Asked if he was having any second thoughts, a smiling Miller offered a firm, “no”.
“It’s sort of bittersweet,” said Miller. “I thought we competed hard. Every time we got the lead Chauncey and Rip (Hamilton) hit the big shots. That’s what championship teams do.”
Detroit ended Miller’s career and the series with a gritty effort as the Pacers led at the half, and 63-62 going into the final quarter.
The Pistons took the lead early in the fourth quarter and never let go, pulling in front 77-72 on a pair of Chauncey Billups free throws with 5:22 to play.
Detroit was 22-of-24 from the free throw line, including 4-for-4 with seconds remaining to seal the win.
Billups contributed 23 points and eight assists to the Pistons cause while Rasheed Wallace chipped in with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Jermaine O’Neal had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers.
