SAN ANTONIO: The San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat finally played a game that matched the quality of the two championship-tested teams. They traded highlight plays, each team determined not to lose. There were ghastly gaffes from superstars and role players alike, but the intensity was unlike any of the previous games, as San Antonio wanted to go home and Miami was determined not have another team from Texas celebrate a championship on its home court.

In the end, the game wouldn't be decided by LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker or Dwyane Wade. The Heat were able to fend of the Spurs and force another game with a gutty, 103-100 overtime victory that came down to clutch shooting of reserve Ray Allen, and the timely everything else from oft-maligned forward Chris Bosh.

With the Heat trailing by three near the end of regulation, Bosh rebounded a miss by James and found Allen retreating to the corner, where he stepped back and knocked down a three-pointer over Parker to tie the game at 95 with 5.2 seconds remaining. Then, after Allen forced Spurs guard Manu Ginobili into a late turnover and made two free throws, Bosh ended the game by rejecting a potential tying three-pointer by Danny Green in front of the Spurs' bench. Bosh then grabbed the ball, tossed it to the other end of the court and raised his hands after helping the Heat force a Game 7, which will be played on Thursday at American Airlines Arena om Miami. The Heat are attempting to become the fourth team since the NBA went to a 2-3-2 format to win the last two games at home.

James had a game-high 32 points with 11 assists and 10 rebounds, overcoming a rough start to score 16 fourth-quarter points and help his team rally from a 13-point second-half defict. But he was nearly upstaged by Parker, who scored 25 points and led a valiant response that gave the Spurs a seemingly comfortable five-point lead with less than a minute remaining.

But the defending Heat have responded to having their backs against the wall all season and Tuesday night was no different. Wade had a quiet 14 points and was out of the game during the James-led fourth-quarter run, but Bosh had 11 rebounds, 10 points and two blocks and Allen chipped in with nine points.

Duncan led the Spurs with 30 points but failed to score after the third period. Duncan was on the verge of ending his season and raising more superfluous narratives about his legacy and postseason failures. His all-star teammates were shrinking under the pressure of facing elimination at home, in the Finals, for the second time in three years. And he was struggling to score against a pudgy Frenchman Boris Diaw, but just when it appeared that James and the Heat were going to fold, James led his team back with an inspiring flurry, with most of it coming after he had lost his signature headband.

The Spurs led 75-65 entering the final period and Duncan could almost taste the champagne, but point guard Mario Chalmers made a three-pointer and James made a runner off the glass to energize the crowd. Then, after losing his shoe and tossing to the sideline, Mike Miller buried a three-pointer to bring the Heat within four.

James later rebounded a Chalmers airball and dunked, headband popping from his head in the process, to cut the deficit to 80-77. Then, after Kawhi Leonard made a jump hook in the lane, the Heat scored the next eight points, with James carrying Miami on both ends of the floor.

Duncan thought he had an easy layup but James snuck up and slapped the ball away. James then tied the game at 82 with a layup and reserve Allen gave the Heat their first lead of the second half with a reverse layup.

Parker had gone scoreless through the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter. But with James standing in front of him, Parker squared up and made a three-pointer to tie the game at 89. Parker then intercepted an errant pass by Mario Chalmers, then drove down the court and made a layup to put the Spurs ahead. James tried to answer by attacking Parker in the paint. But after backing down Parker, James spun and the ball slipped from his hands.

Duncan slapped the ball to Leonard and fed the ball to Ginobili, who got fouled and made two free throws to give the Spurs a 93-89 lead.

James then threw a bad lob to Bosh that led to another turnover, but Ginobili was only able to make one free throw, allowing James to bring his team within two points when he knocked down a three-pointer.

The Heat fouled Leonard and sent him to the foul line and the Spurs again were only able to convert one of two attempts. James again pulled up from three-point range, but missed. Bosh, however, secured the rebound and Allen tied the game. After Parker missed an off-balanced runner as time expired, James slapped Allen's hand after he forced an extra frame and gave the Heat life once again.