Ginobili Awakens, Leads Spurs Past Heat in Game 5
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Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images(SAN ANTONIO) — Apparently Manu Ginobili just needed to get in the game earlier.
Ginobili, who struggled the first four games of the NBA Finals, was in the starting lineup Sunday night for the first time since the 2012 Western Conference Finals, and scored 24 points and dished out 13 assists to lead the San Antonio Spurs past the Miami Heat 114-104 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
The Spurs now lead the series 3-2.
Ginobili averaged 7.5 points per game in the first four games of the series, but shot 8-for-14 Sunday, giving him his highest scoring output since June 4, 2012.
“He was more aggressive…He looked for his shot a bit more,” Spurs forward Tim Duncan said when explaining Ginobili’s offensive performance. “On top of that he let the game come to him. He made some great plays, got the floor spread for him, got to attack the basket and just got more opportunities than anything.”
Spurs guard Danny Green also had a big night. Green shot 6-for-10 from 3-point land and broke Heat guard Ray Allen’s NBA Finals record for 3-pointers made in a series. Green now has 25 3-pointers for the series, passing Allen’s record of 22.
“I’ve had some heat flashes in my day,” Green said when referring to his hot shooting. “I don’t think for this long a period of a time. But this season has been a pretty good shooting season for me. I’ve had a couple of games, but not multiple games back-to-back where it’s been carried over. Right now everything is working well for me.”
Dwyane Wade and LeBron James each scored 25 points in the loss.
Game 6 is Tuesday in Miami. Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m. Eastern, on ABC.
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