NBA Game Summary - Detroit at San Antonio

San Antonio, TX (Basketball News) - Tim Duncan posted 25 points and 11 rebounds, leading the San Antonio Spurs to their third NBA title in seven years with an 81-74 victory over the Detroit Pistons in the deciding Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

Duncan shot just 10-of-27 from the field, but scored 17 of his points in the second half. He was named the Finals MVP for the third time in his career.

Manu Ginobili finished with 23 points for the Spurs, who won their first title since 2003 when they beat the New Jersey Nets in six games.

Robert Horry, who leads all active players with six NBA titles, added 15 points in the victory.

The Pistons had their dreams of winning back-to-back championships crushed. Detroit won the NBA title in shocking fashion last season, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. Detroit had won consecutive NBA titles in 1989 and 1990.

Richard Hamilton notched 15 points and eight rebounds for the Pistons, who are now 0-2 all-time in Game 7s in the NBA Finals. They also lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1988.

Chauncey Billups, last year’s Finals MVP, scored 13 points and dished out eight assists in the loss. Ben Wallace added 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Rasheed Wallace posted 11 points.

Thursday’s contest marked the first Game 7 in the NBA since 1994 when the Houston Rockets defeated the New York Knicks. After San Antonio won the first two games of the series at home, the Finals hardly seemed like they were headed for a seventh game. However, Detroit won two of three on its homecourt before taking Game 6 here on Tuesday night.

The Pistons were trying to become the first team in NBA history to win Games 6 and 7 on the road in the championship round.