View source for 2005 NBA Finals

{{Short description|2005 basketball championship series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{NBA Finals summary
| image = NBA Finals 05.png
| caption =
| league = NBA
| year = 2005
| runnerup = [[2004–05 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit Pistons]]
| runnerup_coach = [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]]
| runnerup_games = 3
| champion = [[2004–05 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio Spurs]]
| champion_coach = [[Gregg Popovich]]
| champion_games = 4
| date = June 9–23
| MVP = [[Tim Duncan]]<br />(San Antonio Spurs)
| HOFers = '''Spurs:'''<br />[[Tim Duncan]] (2020)<br />[[Manu Ginóbili]] (2022)<br />[[Tony Parker]] (2023)<br />'''Pistons:'''<br />[[Chauncey Billups]] (2024)<br />[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (2021)<br />'''Coaches:'''<br />[[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]] (2002)<br />[[Gregg Popovich]] (2023)<br />'''Officials:'''<br />[[Dick Bavetta]] (2015)<br/>[[Danny Crawford]] (2025)
| ECF result = [[2004–05 Detroit Pistons season|Pistons]] defeated [[2004–05 Miami Heat season|Heat]], 4–3
| WCF result = [[2004–05 San Antonio Spurs season|Spurs]] defeated [[2004–05 Phoenix Suns season|Suns]], 4–1
}}

The '''2005 NBA Finals''' was the [[NBA Finals|championship series]] of the [[National Basketball Association]]'s (NBA) [[2004–05 NBA season|2004–05 season]], and the culmination of the [[2005 NBA playoffs|season's playoffs]]. The [[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] champion [[2004–05 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio Spurs]] played the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] champion [[2004–05 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit Pistons]] for the title,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2005-nba-finals-pistons-vs-spurs.html|title=2005 NBA Finals - Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs|website=Basketball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=May 13, 2019}}</ref> with the Spurs holding [[home team|home court advantage]] and the Pistons as [[2004 NBA Finals|defending champions]]. The series was played under a [[Best-of-seven playoff|best-of-seven format]] (unlike the previous three rounds, the team with home court advantage hosted games one, two, six, and seven if all were necessary). It also marked the Pistons' first NBA Finals loss since [[1988 NBA Finals|1988]].

The Spurs won the series four games to three in the first NBA Finals to go to a Game 7 since [[1994 NBA Finals|1994]]. The games were broadcast on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], with [[Al Michaels]] and [[Hubie Brown]] commentating. National radio coverage was provided by [[ESPN Radio]] through announcers [[Jim Durham]] and [[Dr. Jack Ramsay]].

==Background==
This series was not only the first matchup of the previous two NBA champions since the 1987 Finals (Lakers d. Celtics, 4–2), it was a match up of the two premier defensive teams of that era: from the 2002–03 season to the 2004–05 season, the Spurs and Pistons routinely finished in the top three in Points Allowed: in 2003, Detroit was #1 and San Antonio #3; in 2004, the teams finished in a tie for the #1 spot; in 2005, the Spurs were #1 and the Pistons were #2. The Spurs were considered more capable of playing at a faster pace, as evidenced by their convincing win against the high-scoring Phoenix Suns during the Western Conference finals. However, both teams performed exceptionally well when scoring over 100 points (Detroit was 22–3, San Antonio was 28–2).

Going into the 2005 Finals, the Spurs had won two championships ([[1999 NBA Finals|1999]] and [[2003 NBA Finals|2003]]), while Detroit had three ([[1989 NBA Finals|1989]], [[1990 NBA Finals|1990]], and [[2004 NBA Finals|2004]]). The 2004 Championship was considered a major upset by some sportswriters because of the Lakers' big name talent. Others saw the result as fully legitimate, pointing out that Detroit's defense outplayed the Lakers' offense. Further, the balanced Detroit offense proved especially difficult to deal with when Karl Malone's injured knee left the Lakers without a reliable presence to slow down the Pistons' Rasheed Wallace. Many thought that a contributing factor to the Lakers' loss was the well-publicized tension between superstars [[Shaquille O'Neal]] and [[Kobe Bryant]].

Both the Spurs and the Pistons were ranked number two in their respective conferences, with the [[Phoenix Suns]] ranked number one in the [[Western Conference (NBA)|West]] and the [[Miami Heat]] ranked number one in the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|East]].

Sportswriters all across the country generally considered this one of the few ''too-close-to-call'' series to occur. Most picked the series to go to six or seven games.

The Spurs breezed through the [[2005 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]] with relative ease, compared to the Pistons. They defeated the [[Denver Nuggets|Nuggets]] 4–1 to open the playoffs, winning four straight after losing the home opener. They then defeated the [[Seattle SuperSonics|SuperSonics]] within six games the following series. [[Phoenix Suns|Phoenix]] was expected by many to put up a challenge, but the Spurs won the series easily, four games to one.

The Pistons had a slightly tougher road back to the Finals. The opening round was a fairly easy five-game victory over [[Philadelphia 76ers|Philadelphia]]. Next, the Pistons faced the [[Indiana Pacers]], one of the NBA's most resilient teams. Indiana was expected by most experts to falter and miss the playoffs after the [[Pacers–Pistons brawl]]; however, led by retiring Pacers legend [[Reggie Miller]], the Pacers still made the playoffs and unexpectedly won their first-round series against the Atlantic Division champion [[Boston Celtics]]. The Pacers mounted a formidable challenge but after a Game Six loss, Reggie Miller's storied 18-year career was over. Detroit's next opponent was the East #1 seed [[Miami Heat|Miami]], led by [[Dwyane Wade]] and [[Shaquille O'Neal]]. After winning Game One, the Pistons fell  2–1 after three games and 3–2 after five games. By winning Game Six on their home court, the Pistons forced a Game Seven. In Game Seven, Detroit overcame the odds to beat the Heat at [[American Airlines Arena]], and thus advanced to the NBA Finals for the second straight year.

===Road to the Finals===
{{Main|2005 NBA playoffs}}
{| style="width:100%; font-size:90%" class="wikitable"
|- valign=top
! colspan="2" style="width:45%;"|[[San Antonio Spurs]] ([[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] champion)!! !! colspan="2" style="width:45%;"|[[Detroit Pistons]] ([[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] champion)
|-
|align=right|
{{2004–05 NBA West standings|team=SAS}}2nd seed in the West, 2nd best league record
!colspan=2|[[2004–05 NBA season|Regular season]]
|
{{2004–05 NBA East standings|team=DET}}2nd seed in the East, 5th best league record
|-
|align=right|Defeated the (7) [[Denver Nuggets]], 4–1
!colspan=2|First round
|Defeated the (7) [[Philadelphia 76ers]], 4–1
|-
|align=right|Defeated the (3) [[Seattle SuperSonics]], 4–2
!colspan=2|Conference semifinals
|Defeated the (6) [[Indiana Pacers]], 4–2
|-
|align=right|Defeated the (1) [[Phoenix Suns]], 4–1
!colspan=2|Conference finals
|Defeated the (1) [[Miami Heat]], 4–3
|}

===Regular season series===
Both teams split the two meetings, each won by the home team:
{{basketballbox
 | bg=#fff
 | date = December 3, 2004
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]] |score1=77
 | team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' |score2=80
 | place = [[SBC Center]], [[San Antonio, Texas]]
 }}
{{basketballbox
 | date = March 20, 2005
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score1=101
 | team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score2=110
 | place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
}}

==Rosters==
===San Antonio Spurs===
{{NBA roster header|team=San Antonio Spurs|season=2004–05}}
<!-- list of players -->
{{player2 | num = 17 | first = Brent | last = Barry | pos =SG | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 185 | college = Oregon State | DOB = 1971–12–31 }}
{{player2 | num = 12 | first = Bruce | last = Bowen | pos =SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 185 | college = Cal State Fullerton | DOB = 1971–06–14 }}
{{player2 | num = 23 | first = Devin | last = Brown | pos =SG | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 220 | college = UTSA | DOB = 1978–12–30 }}
{{player2 | num = 21 | first = Tim | last = Duncan | pos =PF | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 250 | college = Wake Forest | DOB = 1976–04–25 }}
{{player2 | num = 20 | first = Manu | last = Ginóbili | pos =SG | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 205 | from = Argentina | DOB = 1977–07–28 }}
{{player2 | num = 5 | first = Robert | last = Horry | pos =PF | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 220 | college = Alabama | DOB = 1970–08–25 }}
{{player2 | num = 43 | first = Linton | last = Johnson | pos =SF | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 205 | college = Tulane | DOB = 1980–06–13 }}
{{player2 | num = 4 | first = Sean | last = Marks | pos =PF | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 250 | college = California | DOB = 1975–08–23 }}
{{player2 | num = 34 | first = Tony | last = Massenburg | pos =PF | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 220 | college = Maryland | DOB = 1967–07–31 }}
{{player2 | num = 2 | first = Nazr | last = Mohammed | pos =C | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 221 | college = Kentucky | DOB = 1977–09–05 }}
{{player2 | num = 8 | first = Radoslav | last = Nesterović | pos =C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 248 | from = Slovenia | DOB = 1976–05–30 }}
{{player2 | num = 9 | first = Tony | last = Parker | pos =PG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 185 | from = France | DOB = 1982–05–17 }}
{{player2 | num = 3 | first = Glenn | last = Robinson | pos =SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 225 | college = Purdue | DOB = 1973–01–10 }}
{{player2 | num = 14 | first = Beno | last = Udrih | pos =PG | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 205 | from = Slovenia | DOB = 1982–05–03 }}
{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Mike | last = Wilks | dab=basketball | pos =PG | ft = 5 | in = 10 | lbs = 185 | college = Rice | DOB = 1979–05–07 }}
<!-- end list of players -->
{{NBA roster footer
| head_coach = 
* [[Gregg Popovich]]
| asst_coach =
* [[Brett Brown]]
* [[Mike Budenholzer]]
* [[P. J. Carlesimo]]
* [[Don Newman (basketball)|Don Newman]]
| otherlegend = '''(DL)''' On [[assignment (NBA D-League)|assignment]] to D-League affiliate
}}

===Detroit Pistons===
{{NBA roster header|team=Detroit Pistons|season=2004–05
| bg1 = #006BB6 | color1 = #FFFFFF
| bg2 = #B50000 | color2 = #FFFFFF
}}
<!-- list of players -->
{{player2 | num = 30 | first = Carlos | last = Arroyo | pos =PG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 202 | college = FIU | DOB = 1979–07–30 }}
{{player2 | num = 1 | first = Chauncey | last = Billups | pos =PG | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 202 | college = Colorado | DOB = 1976–09–25 }}
{{player2 | num = 41 | first = Elden | last = Campbell | pos =C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 215 | college = Clemson | DOB = 1968–07–23 }}
{{player2 | num = 20 | first = Carlos | last = Delfino | pos =SG | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 230 | from = Argentina | DOB = 1982–08–29 }}
{{player2 | num = 12 | first = Ronald | last = Dupree | pos =SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 209 | college = LSU | DOB = 1981–01–26 }}
{{player2 | num = 8 | first = Darvin | last = Ham | pos =SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 220 | college = Texas Tech | DOB = 1973–07–23 }}
{{player2 | num = 32 | first = Richard | last = Hamilton | dab=basketball | pos =SG | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 185 | college = Connecticut | DOB = 1978–02–14 }}
{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Lindsey | last = Hunter | pos =SG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 170 | college = Jackson State | DOB = 1970–12–03 }}
{{player2 | num = 5 | first = Horace | last = Jenkins | pos =PG | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 180 | college = William Paterson| DOB = 1974–10–14 }}
{{player2 | num = 24 | first = Antonio | last = McDyess | pos =PF | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 220 | college = Alabama | DOB = 1974–09–07 }}
{{player2 | num = 31 | first = Darko | last = Miličić | pos =C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 250 | from = Serbia | DOB = 1985–06–20 }}
{{player2 | num = 22 | first = Tayshaun | last = Prince | pos =SF | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 212 | college = Kentucky | DOB = 1980–02–28 }}
{{player2 | num = 3 | first = Ben | last = Wallace | dab=basketball | pos =C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 240 | college = Virginia Union | DOB = 1974–09–10 }}
{{player2 | num = 36 | first = Rasheed | last = Wallace | pos =PF | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 225 | college = North Carolina | DOB = 1974–09–17 }}
<!-- end list of players -->
{{NBA roster footer
| head_coach = 
* [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]]
| asst_coach =
* [[Phil Ford (basketball)|Phil Ford]]
* [[Dave Hanners]]
* [[Gar Heard]]
* [[Igor Kokoškov]]
* [[Pat Sullivan (basketball)|Pat Sullivan]]
| otherlegend = '''(DL)''' On [[assignment (NBA D-League)|assignment]] to D-League affiliate
}}

==Series summary==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Game !! Date !! Road team !! Result !! Home team
|-
| Game 1 || June 9 || Detroit Pistons || 69–84 (0–1) || '''San Antonio Spurs'''
|-
| Game 2 || June 12 || Detroit Pistons || 76–97 (0–2) || '''San Antonio Spurs'''
|-
| Game 3 || June 14 || San Antonio Spurs || 79–96 (2–1) || '''Detroit Pistons'''
|-
| Game 4 || June 16 || San Antonio Spurs || 71–102 (2–2) || '''Detroit Pistons'''
|-
| Game 5 || June 19 || '''San Antonio Spurs''' || 96–95 (OT) (3–2) || Detroit Pistons
|-
| Game 6 || June 21 || '''Detroit Pistons''' || 95–86 (3–3) || San Antonio Spurs
|-
| Game 7 || June 23 || Detroit Pistons || 74–81 (4–3) || '''San Antonio Spurs'''
|}

==Features==
This was the first NBA Finals to have the sticker version of the [[Larry O'Brien Trophy]] adorn the center court (team logo still visible in the middle), with the NBA Finals wordmark logo on opposite ends of the court. This remained in effect until the [[2009 NBA Finals]]; the position of the O'Brien trophy was modified for the [[2007 NBA Finals]].

==Game summaries==
:''All times are in [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Daylight Time]] ([[UTC−4]]). If the venue is located in a different time zone, the local time is also given.''

===Game 1===
{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=June 9 |time=9:00 pm {{small|(8:00 pm [[Central Time Zone|CDT]])}}|place=[[SBC Center]], [[San Antonio, Texas]] |TV=[[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
|team1=[[Detroit Pistons]] |score1=69
|team2='''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' |score2=84
|report={{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316033034/http://www.nba.com/games/20050609/DETSAS/recap.html |date=March 16, 2009 |title=Recap }}
|Q1='''20'''–17 |Q2=17–'''18''' |Q3=14–'''20''' |Q4=18–'''29'''
|points1=[[Chauncey Billups]] 25 |points2=[[Manu Ginóbili]] 26
|rebounds1=[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] 8 |rebounds2=[[Tim Duncan]] 17
|assist1=[[Chauncey Billups]] 6 |assist2=[[Robert Horry|Horry]], [[Tony Parker|Parker]] 3 each
|attendance=18,797
|referee=
* No. 29 Steve Javie
* No. 10 Ron Garretson
* No. 24 Mike Callahan
|series=San Antonio leads series, 1–0
}}

[[Manu Ginóbili]] was the star of Game 1, turning in a virtuoso performance in the fourth quarter to lead the Spurs to victory. Ginobili scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to complement a huge game by Tim Duncan (24 points, 17 rebounds).

Ginobili, who in the previous summer led Argentina in points and assists en route to Olympic gold, took over in the final period. He scored eight points in a decisive 12–2 surge that gave the Spurs a 67–55 lead, then throttled a push by the Pistons with a swooping dunk, 3-pointer and running hook for an 81–67 advantage with less than two minutes to go.

Having been idle for a week, the Spurs opened the game in lackluster fashion – in the first eight minutes the Spurs trailed 19–7 – but were able to fight back and stabilize the game. It may have happened that Detroit's more recent play led to fourth quarter fatigue which enabled the Spurs' strong fourth quarter; in any case, the Spurs prevailed in the first contest.

===Game 2===
{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=June 12 |time=9:00 pm {{small|(8:00 pm [[Central Time Zone|CDT]])}}|place=[[SBC Center]], [[San Antonio, Texas]] |TV=[[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
|team1=[[Detroit Pistons]] |score1=76
|team2='''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' |score2=97
|report={{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219211107/http://www.nba.com/games/20050612/DETSAS/recap.html |date=February 19, 2009 |title=Recap }}
|Q1=19–'''30''' |Q2=23–'''28''' |Q3=21–21 |Q4=13–'''18'''
|points1=[[Antonio McDyess]] 15 |points2=[[Manu Ginóbili]] 27
|rebounds1=[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]], [[Rasheed Wallace]] 8 each |rebounds2=[[Tim Duncan]] 11
|assist1=[[Rasheed Wallace]] 4 |assist2=[[Manu Ginóbili]] 7
|attendance=18,797
|referee=
* No. 7 Bernie Fryer
* No. 43 Dan Crawford
* No. 35 Jack Nies
|series=San Antonio leads series, 2–0
}}

The resilient Detroit Pistons were expected to bounce back from their fourth-quarter letdown in Game 1. Exactly the opposite occurred. From the opening tip, Game 2 was all San Antonio as the Spurs got out to a quick lead and never looked back.

The Spurs took advantage of Detroit's uncharacteristic mistakes throughout the night, which included missing nine shots from inside four feet from the basket. While the Pistons went cold (0–6) from behind the three-point line, the Spurs made 11 3-pointers, including four each by Manu Ginóbili and [[Bruce Bowen]], who did not score a point in Game 1. Ginobili again led the Spurs with a 27 points, while Tim Duncan finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds. [[Antonio McDyess]] was the high scorer for Detroit, scoring 15 points off the bench.

The 2–0 lead was a big advantage for San Antonio. In the history of the NBA, the team with home-court advantage started a series with a 2–0 lead 153 times. On just seven occasions, the trailing team rebounded to win the series.

===Game 3===
{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=June 14 |time=9:00 pm |place=[[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]] |TV=[[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
|team1=[[San Antonio Spurs]] |score1=79
|team2='''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score2=96
|report={{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316032045/http://www.nba.com/games/20050614/SASDET/recap.html |date=March 16, 2009 |title=Recap }}
|Q1='''27'''–21 |Q2=15–'''20''' |Q3=23–'''29''' |Q4=14–'''26'''
|points1=[[Tony Parker]] 21 |points2=[[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 24
|rebounds1=[[Tim Duncan]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] 11
|assist1=[[Tim Duncan|Duncan]], [[Tony Parker|Parker]] 4 each |assist2=[[Chauncey Billups]] 7
|attendance=22,076
|referee=
* No. 15 Bennett Salvatore
* No. 26 Bob Delaney
* No. 17 Joe Crawford
|series=San Antonio leads series, 2–1
}}

In NBA history, only two teams had ever won a Finals series after facing a 2–0 deficit&mdash;the [[Boston Celtics]] in the [[1969 NBA Finals]] and the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] in the [[1977 NBA Finals]]&mdash;however, just one year later the [[Miami Heat]] would accomplish this feat against the [[Dallas Mavericks]] in the [[2006 NBA Finals]].

With that task looming ahead, the Pistons responded in tremendous fashion. Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton combined for 44 points, while Ben Wallace (15 pts, 11 reb, 5 blk, 3 stl) together with Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess harassed Tim Duncan into a 5–15 shooting night. The Pistons dominated the second half, outscoring the Spurs 55–37.

The Pistons became the first team to score more than 90 points in a Finals game against the Spurs during this game.

===Game 4===
{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=June 16 |time=9:00 pm |place=[[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]] |TV=[[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
|team1=[[San Antonio Spurs]] |score1=71
|team2='''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score2=102
|report={{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316032050/http://www.nba.com/games/20050616/SASDET/recap.html |date=March 16, 2009 |title=Recap }}
|Q1=17–'''23''' |Q2=19–'''28''' |Q3=21–'''23''' |Q4=14–'''28'''
|points1=[[Tim Duncan]] 16 |points2=[[Chauncey Billups|Billups]], [[Lindsey Hunter|Hunter]] 17 each
|rebounds1=[[Tim Duncan]] 16 |rebounds2=[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] 13
|assist1=[[Bruce Bowen|Bowen]], [[Tony Parker|Parker]] 4 each |assist2=[[Chauncey Billups]] 7
|attendance=22,076
|referee=
* No. 27 Dick Bavetta
* No. 32 Eddie F. Rush
* No. 14 Joe DeRosa
|series=Series tied, 2–2
}}

The pattern of the first two games held up in games 3 and 4: home team wins big in the first one and even bigger in the second. And Game 4 was the most lopsided of all during the 2005 NBA Finals; the Pistons' 102 points were the only time either team reached triple digits in the series.

Seven Pistons scored in double figures, especially efficient bench performances by [[Lindsey Hunter]] and Antonio McDyess. In 22 minutes, Hunter scored 17 points and dished out 5 assists; McDyess scored 13 and grabbed 7 rebounds in just 19 minutes.

Conversely, only three Spurs scored in double figures (Ginobili, Duncan, Parker), and among all Spurs attempting five or more field goals, only Tony Parker (6–13, 46.2% shooting) managed to surpass the 45% mark. Collectively, the Spurs shot 37% and committed 17 turnovers to the Pistons' NBA Finals-record four.

Hunter's and Billups' 17 points were the fewest to lead an NBA Finals game since [[George Yardley]] of the Fort Wayne Pistons led all scorers with 16 points in the fifth game of the [[1955 NBA Finals]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Syracuse Nationals at Fort Wayne Pistons Box Score, April 7, 1955 |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195504070FTW.html |website=Basketball-Reference.com |publisher=[[Sports Reference]] |access-date=June 14, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

===Game 5===
{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=June 19 |time=9:00 pm |place=[[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]] |TV=[[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
|team1='''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' |score1=96
|team2=[[Detroit Pistons]] |score2=95 |overtime=OT
|report={{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311012623/http://www.nba.com/games/20050619/SASDET/recap.html |date=March 11, 2009 |title=Recap }}
|Q1=21–'''23''' |Q2='''21'''–19 |Q3='''22'''–21 |Q4=25–'''26''' |OT='''7'''–6
|points1=[[Tim Duncan]] 26 |points2=[[Chauncey Billups]] 34
|rebounds1=[[Tim Duncan]] 19 |rebounds2=[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] 12
|assist1=[[Manu Ginóbili]] 9 |assist2=[[Chauncey Billups]] 7
|attendance=22,076
|referee=
* No. 24 Mike Callahan
* No. 10 Ron Garretson
* No. 29 Steve Javie
|series=San Antonio leads series, 3–2
}}

With the first four games of the 2005 Finals being blowouts by the home team, Game 5 was the close game everyone was waiting for, and it went down as one of the more memorable games in Finals history.

The game was closely contested by throughout the night as the lead changed 12 separate times, and the game was tied on 18 occasions. Regulation was not enough to settle this game, so the game went into overtime. The Pistons streaked out to a quick lead in the first few minutes of overtime, and seemed to have the game in hand. However, a missed layup by Chauncey Billups with Detroit ahead 95–93 with nine seconds remaining left San Antonio with a chance. On the Spurs' next possession, [[Robert Horry]] inbounded the ball to Ginobili, who headed for the left corner and dished it right back to Horry. Rasheed Wallace had left Horry to double-team Ginobili, and Horry was left alone to sink the game-winning basket with 5.8 seconds remaining in the OT. Horry was already famous for nailing last-second shots in the playoffs, including Game Four of the 2002 Western Conference finals between the Lakers and [[Sacramento Kings]].

Horry went 5 for 6 from beyond the arc, including the game-winner, and scored 21 points coming off the bench. He hadn't scored a point until the final play of the 3rd quarter. He carried the team in the fourth quarter and overtime as his teammates struggled with the weight of a must-win game on the road against an accomplished adversary. In addition to the game-winning three-pointer, late in overtime Horry made a spectacular left-handed dunk while being fouled as the shot clock wound down.

Tim Duncan, despite struggling from the free-throw line, finished with 26 points and 19 rebounds for the Spurs. Chauncey Billups was the high scorer for the Pistons, finishing with a game-high 34 points in the losing effort.

To date, this is the most recent NBA Finals game played in Metro Detroit.

===Game 6===
{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=June 21 |time=9:00 pm {{small|(8:00 pm [[Central Time Zone|CDT]])}}|place=[[SBC Center]], [[San Antonio, Texas]] |TV=[[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
|team1='''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score1=95
|team2=[[San Antonio Spurs]] |score2=86
|report={{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316032055/http://www.nba.com/games/20050621/DETSAS/recap.html |date=March 16, 2009 |title=Recap }}
|Q1=23–23 |Q2=23–'''24''' |Q3='''25'''–20 |Q4='''24'''–19
|points1=[[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 23 |points2=[[Tim Duncan|Duncan]], [[Manu Ginóbili|Ginóbili]] 21 each
|rebounds1=[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] 9 |rebounds2=[[Tim Duncan]] 15
|assist1=[[Chauncey Billups]] 6 |assist2=[[Tony Parker]] 5
|attendance=18,797
|referee=
* No. 15 Bennett Salvatore
* No. 7 Bernie Fryer
* No. 43 Dan Crawford
|series=Series tied, 3–3
}}

Game 6 was a close game all along, and the lead kept fluctuating between the two teams. Again, the leading stars on both teams played big games. Detroit pulled away early in the fourth for an 80–73 lead with five minutes to go, but the Spurs continued to threaten them. Soon, it was back to a one-point game.

Then, Rasheed Wallace planted a three-pointer to pull away, and even with a resilient game by the Spurs, the Pistons had clinched the victory.

Nevertheless, several Pistons free throws were necessary in the final moments of the game to put a win out of reach for the Spurs.

[[Rasheed Wallace]] had a big game to atone for the mistake he made for leaving Horry open in Game 5. Despite his mistake, Wallace was nonchalant about the play, even commenting incorrectly that he left Horry to guard Duncan.

Billups and [[Tayshaun Prince|Prince]] again led the Pistons with steady, unwavering defense, which is the key, as it is often said, to victory. Although Duncan and Ginobili finished with 21 points each, neither was able to seriously threaten the strong Pistons defense enough to win the game. Detroit thus won its fifth consecutive game facing elimination. The Pistons became the first road team to force a Game 7 in the NBA Finals.

===Game 7===
{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=June 23 |time=9:00 pm {{small|(8:00 pm [[Central Time Zone|CDT]])}}|place=[[SBC Center]], [[San Antonio, Texas]] |TV=[[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
|team1=[[Detroit Pistons]] |score1=74
|team2='''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' |score2=81
|report={{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219212308/http://www.nba.com/games/20050623/DETSAS/recap.html |date=February 19, 2009 |title=Recap }}
|Q1=16–'''18''' |Q2='''23'''–20 |Q3=18–'''19''' |Q4=17–'''24'''
|points1=[[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 15 |points2=[[Tim Duncan]] 25
|rebounds1=[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] 11 |rebounds2=[[Tim Duncan]] 11
|assist1=[[Chauncey Billups]] 8 |assist2=[[Manu Ginóbili]] 4
|attendance=18,797
|referee=
* No. 27 Dick Bavetta
* No. 32 Eddie F. Rush
* No. 17 Joe Crawford
|series=San Antonio wins NBA Finals, 4–3
}}
{{external media|video1={{YouTube|3ig9xiu5VOU|Full game broadcast by ABC}}}}
For the first time in [[1994 NBA Finals|eleven years]], the NBA Finals came down to a decisive Game 7, the longest span between Game 7s in NBA history.<ref>{{cite web |title=NBA Finals in NBA history that went the distance. |url=https://www.nba.com/news/all-time-nba-finals-game-7s |website=NBA |access-date=21 June 2025 |language=en}}</ref> Momentum was on Detroit's side, but the Spurs had home-court advantage. The Pistons were looking to become the first team to ever win the last two games on the road after being down 3–2. NBA history was heavily in favor of the Spurs, who were looking to celebrate a title at the SBC Center for the second time in three years. NBA teams are 74–17 all-time at home in Game 7, and 9-0 when leading 3–2 going home.

Entering this game, the Pistons tied the [[1993–94 New York Knicks season|1994 New York Knicks]] for most games played in a single postseason, with 25.<ref name=MostGames/> The [[Boston Celtics]] broke this record during their {{nbafy|2008}} championship season.<ref name=MostGames>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/sports/basketball/17nba.html|title=Celtics Remain Mindful Of a Missed Opportunity|date=June 17, 2008|first=Howard|last=Beck|newspaper=The New York Times|page=D2|quote=The Celtics, who were pushed to seven games by Atlanta and Cleveland, are about to break the NBA record by playing their 26th playoff game. (The 1994 Knicks and the 2005 Detroit Pistons each played 25 games; both teams lost the finals in seven games.)}}</ref>

Like the previous two games of the series, Game 7 was closely contested throughout, but the Spurs fell into a nine-point deficit with 7:45 left in the third quarter. Though Tim Duncan was for much of the series unable to shoot for a high percentage against Detroit's front line, he led the Spurs out of that nine-point hole. In the final 7:45 of the third quarter, Duncan scored 10 of the teams' 18 final third quarter points and the game was tied to start the fourth. Behind clutch plays from Tim Duncan and Manu Ginóbili, the Spurs took control of the fourth quarter to earn an 81–74 victory, clinching the franchise's third [[Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy|Larry O'Brien Trophy]]. For the game, Tim Duncan finished with a game high 25 points and 11 rebounds, while teammate Manu Ginóbili pitched in with 23 points. [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]], with 15 points, was the high scorer for the Pistons, who fell just short of winning back-to-back championships.

Tim Duncan won his third [[NBA Finals MVP Award]]. Manu Ginóbili, Tony Parker, and Bruce Bowen each received their second championship ring, while Robert Horry became only the second player in NBA history ([[John Salley]] being the first) to play on championship teams for three different franchises. Sean Marks became the first New Zealander to win a championship ring.

==Player statistics==
{{NBA roster statistics legend}}

;San Antonio Spurs
{{NBA roster statistics start|team=San Antonio Spurs}}
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Brent|Barry}} || 7 || 0 || 20.6 || .407 || .375 || .800 || 2.1 || 1.6 || 0.6 || 0.3 || 4.6
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Bruce|Bowen}} || 7 || 7 || 38.7 || .380 || .448 || .667 || 2.7 || 2.0 || 0.6 || 0.7 || 7.9
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Devin|Brown}} || 6 || 0 || 5.8 || .273 || '''.500''' || .571 || 1.0 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.8
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
| align="left" | {{sortname|Tim|Duncan}} || 7 || 7 || '''40.7''' || .419 || .000 || .667 || '''14.1''' || 2.1 || 0.4 || '''2.1''' || '''20.6'''
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Manu|Ginóbili}} || 7 || 7 || 36.0 || .494 || .387 || .854 || 5.9 || '''4.0''' || '''1.3''' || 0.1 || 18.7
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Robert|Horry}} || 7 || 0 || 28.6 || .444 || .484 || .733 || 4.9 || 2.1 || 1.0 || 0.7 || 10.6
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Tony|Massenburg}} || 3 || 0 || 3.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Nazr|Mohammed}} || 7 || 7 || 22.6 || .433 || .000 || .727 || 6.0 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 0.9 || 4.9
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Radoslav|Nesterović}} || 4 || 0 || 6.5 || '''.500''' || .000 || .000 || 2.0 || 0.3 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 0.5
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Tony|Parker}} || 7 || 7 || 38.1 || .458 || .143 || .438 || 2.4 || 3.4 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 13.9
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Glenn|Robinson}} || 3 || 0 || 4.7 || .200 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 0.7
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Beno|Udrih}} || 5 || 0 || 8.8 || .364 || '''.500''' || '''1.000''' || 1.0 || 0.8 || 0.2 || 0.0 || 2.4
{{s-end}}

;Detroit Pistons
{{NBA roster statistics start|team=Detroit Pistons}}
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Carlos|Arroyo}} || 5 || 0 || 6.0 || .500 || .000 || .500 || 0.2 || 0.6 || 0.2 || 0.0 || 2.2
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Chauncey|Billups}} || 7 || 7 || 40.1 || .434 || '''.297''' || '''.909''' || 5.0 || '''6.3''' || 1.0 || 0.1 || '''20.4'''
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Elden|Campbell}} || 1 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Ronald|Dupree}} || 5 || 0 || 1.6 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Darvin|Ham}} || 5 || 0 || 2.2 || .500 || .000 || .000 || 0.6 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.4
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Richard|Hamilton|dab=basketball}} || 7 || 7 || '''42.0''' || .386 || .167 || .750 || 5.3 || 2.6 || 0.6 || 0.1 || 16.7
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Lindsey|Hunter}} || 7 || 0 || 19.7 || .381 || .000 || .875 || 1.9 || 2.7 || 1.3 || 0.1 || 5.6
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Antonio|McDyess}} || 7 || 0 || 21.9 || .508 || .000 || .556 || 7.3 || 1.0 || 0.9 || 1.1 || 10.1
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Darko|Miličić}} || 3 || 0 || 2.0 || .333 || .000 || .000 || 0.7 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.7
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Tayshaun|Prince}} || 7 || 7 || 39.1 || .382 || .111 || .857 || 4.9 || 2.6 || 1.4 || 0.6 || 10.1
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Ben|Wallace|dab=basketball}} || 7 || 7 || 40.0 || '''.569''' || .000 || .429 || '''10.3''' || 1.0 || 1.7 || '''3.0''' || 10.7
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Rasheed|Wallace}} || 7 || 7 || 32.7 || .438 || .294 || .250 || 5.6 || 1.9 || '''2.0''' || 2.4 || 10.9
{{s-end}}

==Broadcasting==
The games were broadcast exclusively on [[NBA on ABC|ABC]] in the United States. The featured song, aired throughout the [[2005 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]], was [[Rob Thomas (musician)|Rob Thomas]]' "[[This Is How A Heart Breaks]]." Game 3 had a [[Nielsen rating]] percentage of only 7.2% of households and cumulating to a 7.1 average for the first three games, 32% lower than the average of the first three 2004 NBA Finals games.<ref>{{cite news|last=Heistand|first=Michael|title=ABC's ratings for NBA Finals among lowest in history|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/playoffs/2005-06-16-finals-ratings_x.htm|access-date=June 10, 2011|newspaper=USA Today|date=June 16, 2005}}</ref> While all seven games were the top-rated shows of their nights, the average viewership of the 2005 Finals (11.5 million viewers, 7.6 rating/14 [[share (television)|share]]) decreased from the average of the 2004 Finals (17.9 million, 11.5/20). The 2003 Finals averaged 9.8 million viewers and 6.5/12.<ref>{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Allison|title=ABC Rises on Falling NBA Ratings|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/157589-ABC_Rises_on_Falling_NBA_Ratings.php|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=June 10, 2011|date=June 24, 2005}}</ref>

The 2005 Finals would be Michaels' last major NBA assignment with ABC, though he remained with ABC until after [[Super Bowl XL]] in February 2006. Shortly after ABC's [[National Football League on United States television|NFL television contract]] ended, Michaels moved to [[NBC Sports]] to become the lead voice of ''[[NBC Sunday Night Football|Sunday Night Football]]''. ABC's lead position was eventually filled by [[Mike Breen]].

==Aftermath==
The Spurs won a franchise-record 63 victories to clinch the top seed in the West in the [[2005–06 NBA season]]. However, for the third time they were unable to win consecutive championships, bowing to their Texas rivals, the [[Dallas Mavericks]], in Game 7 of the [[2006 NBA Playoffs|Conference semifinals]]. The Mavs would go on to lose in the [[2006 NBA Finals]]. The Spurs went on to win the [[2007 NBA Finals]] the following year, their fourth as a franchise, and won again in [[2014 NBA Finals|2014]].

{{as of|2025}}, this is the Pistons’ last appearance in the NBA Finals. Head coach Larry Brown sought and succeeded in buying out his contract as head coach after the season. He eventually ended up coaching for his hometown [[New York Knicks]], but would only win 23 games in one season. Brown eventually left after the season, and two years later Brown resurfaced, this time coaching the [[Charlotte Bobcats]], where he would lead them to the playoffs in his second year.

The Pistons, guided by new coach [[Flip Saunders]], won a franchise-record 64 games and seemed primed to regain the NBA title. However, Detroit fell in six games to the [[Miami Heat]], who would go on and win the 2006 NBA title. Franchise centerpiece [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] abruptly left for the [[Chicago Bulls]], yet the Pistons still made the conference finals the next two seasons, losing to the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] and [[Boston Celtics]], respectively. Finally, the remaining core of the team was dismantled at the start of the [[2008-09 NBA season]] when Finals MVP [[Chauncey Billups]], along with [[Antonio McDyess]] and [[Cheikh Samb]], was traded for [[Allen Iverson]] in November of that season.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_10887199 | work=Denver Post | first=Benjamin | last=Hochman | title=Nuggets ship Iverson to Detroit for Billups | date=November 3, 2008}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/finals2005/ |title=Official website |website=[[NBA.com]] |access-date=May 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203184109/http://www.nba.com/finals2005/ |archive-date=December 3, 2010 }}

{{NBA Finals}}
{{San Antonio Spurs 2004–05 NBA champions}}
{{San Antonio Spurs}}
{{Detroit Pistons}}
{{2004–05 NBA season by team}}
{{NBA on ABC}}
{{NBA on ESPN Radio}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2005 Nba Finals}}
[[Category:NBA Finals]]
[[Category:2004–05 NBA season|Finals]]
[[Category:San Antonio Spurs games|NBA Finals]]
[[Category:Detroit Pistons games|NBA Finals]]
[[Category:21st century in San Antonio]]
[[Category:2005 in Detroit]]
[[Category:2005 in sports in Texas]]
[[Category:Basketball competitions in Detroit]]
[[Category:Basketball competitions in San Antonio]]
[[Category:2005 in sports in Michigan]]