The Finals: Ingram's trio of 3s stifles last gasp by Sixers as Spurs franchise wins league-best 18th title, 136-141 (4-1).

Brandon Ingram buried three back-to-back-to-back 3PT death blows to the 76ers' season in an instant classic showdown to end the NBA Finals and catapult the San Antonio Spurs into the slot of Winning-est Franchise in Basketball, marking an 18th total championship run as complete. It took a 38-27 surge in the 3rd Quarter to propel the Spurs past Philly tonight in a series that before that point appeared to be heading back to Philly for Game 6. The Sixers had just crushed San Antonio in the 2nd Quarter, 42-31.

The Spurs hit 19 three-pointers this time, shooting 53% just closely enough to 56% by Philly to fend off the worthy challengers from 3 out of the 4 past seasons. Both teams had 15 turnovers a piece, fatigue setting in, exchanging 12 and 14 point leads throughout the dramatic final contest.

Dejounte Murray powered the Spurs with 33 points, 7 assists & 7 steals. Fred VanVleet was vital for the Spurs with 27 points, hitting 7 from long range. Evan Fournier had 19 points, almost perfect from beyond. Ingram had 19 points, with Drummond scoring 12 points on 14 rebounds with 3 blocks.

Going down swinging was James Harden tonight, scoring 43 points with 8 assists. Julius Randle had 19 points. Tobias Harris went out with 17. Capela had 17 points, 13 rebounds. Ben Simmons had 12 assists, but just 7 points, with the Spurs daring him to shoot all series long. Trade rumors will abound this summer, after this marks a 3rd defeat to the Spurs in the Finals for the 76ers, twice led by Simmons. Harden proved his value to the team, so only time will tell if this current incarnation of the team lasts.

Concluding a stellar post-season effort, Dejounte Murray earned Finals MVP honors. He averaged 21.8ppg, 7apg & 4.2spg, establishing himself as San Antonio's bonafide leader moving forward. This summer will pose questions for the Spurs star trio, as egos may prove to be problematic, with chemistry issues revealing themselves during what has been a successful but turbulent championship run.

 

The Finals: Harden keeps Sixers alive, 128-142, to force a Game 5 (1-3).

James Harden would not say die tonight, scoring 38 points and dishing 10 assists, despite going 3-10 from long range. Julius Randle had a phenomenal showing of 32 points & 8 rebounds for Philadelphia.

The Sixers seized control in the second quarter, 23-32, then again in the third, 36-29. The Spurs tried to steal the sweep in the 4th Quarter, but it was not to be. Tobias Harris had 18 points, with Clint Capela's 18 points & 12 rebounds securing the interior. Ben Simmons had 13 assists & 13 points with 8 rebounds.

Fred VanVleet played his heart out for 37 points, one point shy of Harden, hitting 11 shots from long range with 8 assists. The Spurs nearly took the lead late, but missed some do-or-die chances. Murray had 26 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists & 4 steals in the narrow loss. Brandon Ingram had 24 points, with Fournier's 20 still not enough to overcome an off night by Drummond (12 rebounds, 14 points).

The Sixers scored a damning 100 points inside, with 32 points in the fast break and dominating the glass, 52-34. Their bench also devoured San Antonio, 23-7. Philly shot 66% to just 47% by the Spurs.

The Finals: Spurs win vital Game 3, 123-115 (3-0).

Still sore from a stinging loss in Game 2, the 76ers were perhaps not ready for the aggressive output by San Antonio early, surrendering a 16-PT lead after the 1st Quarter, 39-23. The Spurs kept scoring, before Philly finally fought back in the 4th Quarter, 49-30, albeit far too late. The Spurs led by as high as 28 points.

James Harden had 25 points, but shot just 2-7 from 3PT range. Dwight Howard was the 2nd highest scorer for Philly, not boding well for their victory chances, despite 15 points & 13 rebounds. Tobias Harris had 3 turnovers, frustrated visibly for just 13 points. Ben Simmons had 5 ugly turnovers, unable to steer them back into the mix.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went off for 26 points, hitting 6-9 from 3PT territory. Fred VanVleet had 23, hitting 7 deep blows. Brandon Ingram had 18, with Murray & Fournier combining for 24 points. Worst of all, the Sixers had 21 turnovers. The Spurs, on the other hand, bombed Philly with 25 three-pointers.

The Finals: Ingram floors the 76ers at the buzzer, 118-120 (2-0).

Brandon Ingram broke the hearts of every 76ers fan watching back home in Philly tonight. Harden & co. were doing everything right to steal one on the road. They surged in the 3rd Quarter, 36-29, led by a very hot Tobias Harris who scored 29 points. James Harden scorched the Spurs for 32 points. Before Ingram's hero shot, Alex Caruso staved off Philly's momentum with a half-court bomb that beat the 3rd Quarter buzzer, stretching the lead to 85-90.

Ben Simmons had 14 assists with 3 steals & 2 blocks. Clint Capela had another double-double, and the bench was scoring well. They had the Spurs on the ropes. Ben Simmons just barely missed a go-ahead shot with 6 seconds left on the clock, giving San Antonio one last chance to end the festivities before a momentum-owning Philadelphia squad got their hungry hands on Overtime.

Ingram caught the ball, put the ball on the floor, drove, then feinted backward, spun and buried a fade-away dagger over the Sixers defense. Harden and co. collapsed on the court, seething in defeat and sauntering off-court.

B.I. had 24 points for the Spurs. Andre Drummond played amazingly, with 23 points & 20 rebounds, 4 blocks & 6 assists. Evan Fournier had 19 points, hitting five threes. Dejounte Murray had 17, with VanVleet's 13 behind him.

The Finals: Spurs overcome strong opening salvo by 76ers, win 116-123 (1-0).

The 76ers started out strong and nearly finished strong, sneaking back to make it 109-115 before KCP hit a crucial 3PTer for the Spurs to seal the victory.

This response by San Antonio defined the game, after a 34-33 first quarter that the Spurs nearly gave away. A huge 38-27 third quarter is what propelled the Spurs back into control, led by Brandon Ingram's 26 points. Murray had 21 points with 7 assists. Andre Drummond had 17 rebounds. KCP scored 18.

In the narrow loss, James Harden had 23 points, but shot just 3-10 from long range. Ben Simmons had 4 turnovers, scoring just 10 points & 9 assists. Clint Capela had 22 points, 12 rebounds. Julius Randle had 18 points, 12 rebounds.

The Sixers led by 9 early, with the Spurs going up by 14 in the 3rd.