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MIAMI -- The Miami Heat werent supposed to be in this situation. Not now, anyway. Coming home from Texas with their season on the line in 2011 was one thing. They were at the end of their first year together -- LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh still trying to figure it all out and clearly a long way from it. But this season, they were the NBAs best team, one that lost three games in three months and made losing three times in one series look unlikely, if not downright unimaginable. The San Antonio Spurs can finish Miami off Tuesday night in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, reaffirming themselves as one of the leagues greatest franchises. If so, the Heats Big Three once again go from celebrated to devastated. "Were going to see if were a better team than we were our first year together," James said. The Spurs took a 3-2 lead with their 114-104 victory Sunday night. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were all brilliant again, and Danny Green added to what could become one of the most out-of-nowhere finals MVP campaigns ever. One more victory makes the Spurs 5-0 in the NBA Finals, keeping pace with Michael Jordans 6-0 Chicago Bulls as the only teams to make it here multiple times and never lose. "We understand Game 6 is huge," Parker said. "Obviously, you want to finish in the first opportunity you get. We understand that Miami is going to come out with a lot more energy, and theyre going to play better at home. Theyre going to shoot the ball better. Their crowd is going to be behind them." None of that mattered two years ago. Clearly reeling and their psyches shaken after dropping two straight games in Dallas, the Heat were blitzed early in Game 6. They never recovered, Bosh inconsolable as he made his way back to the locker room afterward while the Mavericks celebrated at centre court. James had to endure the criticisms that came with not getting it done in the finals, a story line that was put to rest last year but will be back again if the Heat dont manage to put together consecutive victories. "We challenge ourselves to see if were a better team than we were," Wade said. "Same position no matter how we got to it." The Heat would also host Game 7 on Thursday. Theyre trying to join the 1988 and 2010 Los Angeles Lakers and 1994 Houston Rockets as the only teams to rally from 3-2 down by winning the final two on their home floor since the NBA Finals went to a 2-3-2 format in 1985. Of course, the Heat -- who won 27 in a row during the second-longest winning streak in league history -- havent put together consecutive victories now in close to a month. "Were in a position where its a must-win and everything that weve done all year comes to this point, and we have to win," Heat guard Ray Allen said. "Weve found ourselves in so many situations this year, and weve thrived in tough moments because this is a tough team. We will be ready for Game 6." So will the Spurs, and the Heat know it. "Im sure this team, theyve been here before many times. They understand winning that last game is one of the hardest things youre going to do. And we understand it as well," Wade said. "But you know what? Its the game; weve got to play it. I like our chances, just like they like their chances, in this series and in Game 6. Well see. Well see which team, which style is going to prevail." Their four titles have made the Spurs respected but never beloved. Their first, in 1999, came following a 50-game lockout season, and they certainly werent the team to help the NBA regain its jilted fan base. Victories in 2003 over New Jersey, 2005 over Detroit and 2007 over James Cleveland Cavaliers were all low-rated, lukewarm-interest series in which the Spurs were supposed to win and did, just not in a way that erased the idea that they had boring players with a boring brand of basketball. Win this one, though, and they will surely get their due. They would be knocking off the leagues winningest team and the games best player, with Duncan at 37 and Ginobili soon to be 36, behind a more wide-open offence that has helped Green break Allens finals record for 3-pointers. Not that theyre thinking about that, or anything else beyond Game 6 at this point. "Well reflect back and let it hit us when its over. We still have a lot more work to do. Theres still some business to be done. We have to carry it out and finish it," said Green, who was cut previously by the Cavaliers and Spurs and now has made 25 3-pointers in the first five games. It looked as though the game was finally passing by the Spurs last year, when the young Oklahoma City Thunder blew by them with four straight victories after San Antonio had taken a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals. The Heat routed the Thunder for the championship and the Spurs brought back essentially the same team, believing another year in their system for players like Green and Kawhi Leonard was a better option than seeking out some quick-fix outsider. Thats almost always been the Spurs way, and its on the verge of again being the model for an NBA title -- at the expense of the Miami one that once appeared to be the way champions would be built. "I think every one of us wants this very badly from the top on down," Duncan said. "Were trying to play that way." Wholesale Running Shoes NZ . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Nike Running Shoes NZ . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. http://www.runningshoessalenz.com/ . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Discount Running Shoes NZ . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Clearance Running Shoes NZ Online . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Pairings are set for the first Olympic rugby competition in 92 years with the draw on Tuesday placing favorites New Zealand, Fiji and South Africa in different groups in the mens tournament.The rugby sevens event at the Rio de Janeiro games will be played Aug. 6-11.Group A of the mens tournament is made up of Fiji, United States, Argentina and Brazil. Group B has South Africa, Australia, France and Spain. New Zealand leads group C,, which also includes Britain, Kenya and Japan.ddddddddddddhe womens tournament will also be split into three groups and played over the same dates.Group A has Australia, United States, Fiji and Colombia. Group B includes New Zealand, France, Spain and Kenya. Hosts Brazil will be in group C with Britain, Canada and Japan. ' ' '