Earning their Spurs

Duncan's triple-double paves way to team's second title

Tim Duncan blocked eight shots and harassed Kenyon Martin into 3-for-23 shooting. AP

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Before crateloads of confetti fell, before a jubilant David Robinson hugged his family, before Tim Duncan held the trophy aloft, the San Antonio Spurs finally looked like champions.

It came during the game -- not after it.

The Spurs used a 19-0 fourth-quarter run to defeat the New Jersey Nets 88-77 Sunday night and win the best-of-seven NBA Finals 4-2.

In a postseason that featured several notable blemishes for the Spurs -- five blown double-digit leads, tons of turnovers, no close-out wins at home -- they finally played a five-minute stretch in which they deserved to be called the best.

"I thought this was the most poise we showed all season long -- having the pitfalls we had in the playoffs, then putting the game together we did today," said Duncan, who nearly had an extremely rare quardruple-double. "Guys kept playing, guys stayed confident that the game would turn in our favor, and it did."

Did it ever.

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The defining sequence began with a blocked shot, one of eight for Duncan. Next came his two-handed, overhead pass to Stephen Jackson at the 3-point line -- swish!

Finally, Duncan found Jackson again for another 3-pointer to complete his triple-double.

Duncan finished with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists to help give San Antonio its second title and send David Robinson into retirement with the ultimate present.

Robinson jumped and did a 360 as he punched his fist in the air and then hugged several teammates when he was replaced with 35.6 seconds left.

"Normally, I don't drink champagne. I wear champagne," Robinson said.

The fourth quarter was stunning. The Spurs -- after trailing for almost the entire game -- used the 19-0 run to take the life out of the overwhelmed Nets.

It was the fifth straight NBA title for a Western Conference team, and the second straight disappointing finish for the Nets -- who showed none of the characteristics of a championship team.

Coach Byron Scott left several reserves in during San Antonio's big run, letting them play alongside Kenyon Martin, who struggled through one of the worst games of his career, shooting 3-for-23.

San Antonio outscored New Jersey 31-14 in the fourth quarter, with Duncan getting six rebounds, three assists and three blocks. San Antonio tied the finals record with 13 blocks in the game, and Duncan's 32 in the series broke Patrick Ewing's championship record.

Anatomy of a meltdown The Nets had eight straight empty trips during San Antonio's 19-0 run Time  Result  8:22  Rogers layup blocked by Duncan  7:58  Kidd missed jumper  7:26  Martin missed jumper  6:51  Martin jumper blocked by Duncan  6:17  Kidd missed jumper  5:44  Harris missed two free throws  5:11  Martin missed jumper  4:21  Kittles jumper blocked by Duncan

The Spurs had won every one of their clinching games on the road -- in 1999, when they won their first title, and through the first three rounds of this postseason. They defeated the Phoenix Suns, the three-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks.

When the final buzzer sounded and the Spurs ran onto the court, the SBC Center and its fervent, small-market fans were delirious.

"It's an incredible feeling to do it here, to give our fans a kind of a treat," Duncan said. "It's great for them and great for us."

Robinson completed his 14th season with a strong performance, grabbing 17 rebounds, scoring 13 points and blocking two shots.

At the end, he ran across the court looking for somebody to hug, and he found his son wearing a Robinson jersey and black-and-silver wig. He picked him up, then hugged his mother.

"I was just trying to give us whatever energy I could," Robinson said. "I never figured I'd get 17 [rebounds]. I just wanted to make an impact in the game."

Duncan hugged and kissed his wife, Amy, while 19-year veteran Kevin Willis cried and gave a long hug to 12-year pro Steve Smith. Along with 13-year veteran Danny Ferry, the three old-timers walked off with their first title.

Jackson finished with 17 points, nine of them on 3-pointers in the fourth. Speedy Claxton scored 13 and Manu Ginobili added 11.

Finals MVPs Since league switched to 2-3-2 format Year  Player  Team  2002-03  Tim Duncan  San Antonio  2001-02  Shaquille O'Neal  L.A. Lakers 2000-01  Shaquille O'Neal  L.A. Lakers 1999-00  Shaquille O'Neal  L.A. Lakers 1998-99  Tim Duncan  San Antonio  1997-98  Michael Jordan  Chicago  1996-97  Michael Jordan  Chicago  1995-96  Michael Jordan  Chicago  1994-95  Hakeem Olajuwon  Houston  1993-94  Hakeem Olajuwon  Houston  1992-93  Michael Jordan  Chicago  1991-92  Michael Jordan  Chicago  1990-91  Michael Jordan  Chicago  1989-90  Isiah Thomas  Detroit  1988-89  Joe Dumars  Detroit  1987-88  James Worthy  L.A. Lakers 1986-87  Magic Johnson  L.A. Lakers 1985-86  Larry Bird  Boston  1984-85  K. Abdul-Jabbar L.A. Lakers

Jason Kidd led the Nets with 21 points, and Kerry Kittles had 16 in his best game of the series. Kittles, however, was on the bench watching alongside fellow starter Richard Jefferson as the Nets collapsed early in the fourth with the struggling Lucious Harris and Rodney Rogers on the court together.

The first sign that the Nets were breaking down came when Duncan found Malik Rose all alone under the basket for a layup that cut New Jersey's lead to 72-65. Rogers and Dikembe Mutombo grimaced at each other as the Spurs turned upcourt.

A 3-pointer by Jackson made it a two-point game, and another 3 by Jackson gave the Spurs the lead for good with 6:34 left.

Robinson put back a miss by Duncan, Claxton hit a jumper from behind a screen, Jackson hit yet another 3 off Duncan's 10th assist and Claxton scored again from outside.

The Spurs led 82-72, leaving the Nets hanging their heads with the outcome all but certain.

San Antonio became only the ninth franchise with two or more championships.

After getting swept by the Los Angeles Lakers last season, the Nets went down hard this time in a different sort of way.

"It's never happy to lose," said Kidd, who will be a free agent this summer and could leave New Jersey -- possibly to sign with the Spurs.

"I've got a lot to think about. The door's open, and I've got to play my free agency out. I would love to be a Net, but I've got to look at all my options."

Duncan appeared to possibly be on his way to a quadruple-double at halftime, with 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five blocks. The usually low-key league and finals MVP even got charged up, pumping his fist and yelling after making a 2-footer with three Nets draped on his arms.

Duncan made the ensuing free throw to complete the three-point play, and his 7-footer with 40 seconds left gave San Antonio its first tie since the opening tip, 38-38.

Kidd answered 21 seconds later with a 3-pointer to give the Nets the halftime lead. Eleven of New Jersey's first 17 points in the third quarter came on the fast break, with Jefferson completing a 14-5 run to open the quarter when he took a look-away pass from Kidd and was fouled on a tough layup, converting the three-point play for a 55-43 lead.

San Antonio kept committing turnovers but managed to stay within striking distance. Robinson led the way by doing the little things -- drawing two charges and slamming home a missed shot.

Mutombo swished two foul shots with 35 seconds left in the quarter to help New Jersey take a 63-57 lead into the fourth. Kidd hit the first two shots of the quarters -- both mid-range bank shots -- to quickly put the Nets back up by 10. It was 72-63 after a 3-pointer from the corner by Rogers, but San Antonio then made its big run.

Notes: Jackson finished with six turnovers -- four shy of the finals record of 10 set by Magic Johnson of the Lakers on May 14, 1980. ... Duncan became the fifth player with eight blocks in a championship game, tying the record set most recently by Shaquille O'Neal of the Lakers against Philadelphia in 2001. ... Smith played the final few seconds and missed his only shot. It was his only playing time of the series.