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Spurs avoid ouster

Detroit's Chauncey Billups wipes his face during a timeout in a Game 5 loss to Cleveland. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
Detroit's Chauncey Billups wipes his face during a timeout in a Game 5 loss to Cleveland. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Just when it seemed the Dallas-San Antonio series couldn’t get any more amazing or intense, the closing seconds of a thrilling Game 5 ratcheted everything up another level.

Thanks to Tim Duncan, there will be a Game 6.

Duncan tied an NBA postseason record by making his first 12 shots and scored 36 points, Tony Parker scored 27, and the Spurs withstood losing two jump balls in the final 6.3 seconds to keep their title defense alive with a 98-97 win over the Mavericks Wednesday night at San Antonio.

The Spurs still trail 3-2, but the way they played this game – shooting more than 60 percent into the fourth quarter – anything is possible.

Cavaliers 86, Pistons 84: At Auburn Hills, Mich., LeBron James scored 32 points and assisted on Drew Gooden’s game-winning shot to lead a win over Detroit – Cleveland’s third straight victory en route to a 3-2 lead in the second round series.

Detroit, on the brink of elimination after two straight trips to the NBA Finals, has not given much respect to the Cavs, who are in the second round for the first time since 1993.

Game 6 is Friday night in Cleveland. If the Pistons force a Game 7, they will be back on their home court Sunday.

Off the court

Cleveland’s James was the leading vote-getter on the All-NBA first team, which included Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Phoenix guard Steve Nash. Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki and Miami center Shaquille O’Neal rounded out the first team. … Elgin Baylor, the Los Angeles Clippers’ vice president of basketball operations since 1986, has been selected the NBA’s Executive of the Year.