NBA Finals: Now that’s a big three — Ray Allen delivers, Heat wins

MIAMI — Tim Duncan was five seconds away from his fifth NBA championship.

It’s also how close LeBron James came to a rapidly trampled legacy.

But Ray Allen, the oldest player on the court and a month from his 38th birthday, assisted the 28-year-old James by forcing overtime with a tying three-pointer late in regulation, as the Miami Heat eventually overtook the San Antonio Spurs, 103-100, Tuesday night in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

Allen was also a factor in overtime, poking the ball free from Manu Ginobili with 1.9 seconds left and making two free throws at the other end to give the Heat a final three-point cushion at American Airlines Arena.

The game ended after Danny Green’s rushed three-point attempt was blocked by Chris Bosh. Too bad a number of Heat fans had already headed for the exits, thinking the game and their team’s season were done near the end of regulation, almost half an hour earlier.

Game 7 will also be in Miami, historically bad news for San Antonio because a road team hasn’t won a Finals Game 7 since Washington in 1978.

“We were a few seconds away from winning the championship. We let it go,” Ginobili said. “I have no clue how we’re going to be re-energized. I’m devastated.”

Not so for James.

He had 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, leading the Heat on a fourth-quarter charge after it trailed by 13 with a few minutes left in the third quarter.

James had 16 fourth-quarter points, making seven of 11 shots, and was unstoppable on numerous drives to the basket.

“It was by far the best game I’ve ever been a part of,” he said. “The ups and downs, the roller coaster, the emotions good and bad throughout the whole game. To be a part of something like this is something you would never be able to recreate once you’re done playing the game.”

Duncan had 30 points on 13-for-21 shooting, and 17 rebounds. Somehow it wasn’t enough.

“I don’t know what happened in the fourth and overtime,” he said. “Whatever you want to call it. Just a disappointing loss.”

The move that will be second-guessed: Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich took out Duncan on two late fourth-quarter possessions to match up with Miami’s smaller lineup. Each time, the Heat secured an offensive rebound that led to a three-point basket — first by James with about 20 seconds left, then Allen’s.

Bosh set up Allen’s shot by snagging a rebound off James’ missed three-point attempt and zipping the ball to the right corner, where Allen drilled a three-pointer with 5.2 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 95-95.

It was on to overtime after Tony Parker air-balled an off-balance drive down the left side.

It didn’t look good for the Heat early in the game as Duncan made his first eight shots, or late in regulation as Parker’s quick stop and spin in the lane put the Spurs up by two with 58 seconds left.

But Allen was there for the Heat, yet another three-pointer for the NBA’s all-time leader. He also stopped further bashing of James’ legacy, at least for now.

“It’s going to be a shot that I’m going to remember for a long time,” Allen said. “When you win championships, it involves a little luck. That right there was luck shining on our side.”

Duncan was the one who almost added another championship ring. He had 25 points in the first half, scoring on put-packs, dunks and, of course, his trademark off-to-the-side bank shot. He made 11 of 13 attempts as the Spurs took a 50-44 halftime lead.

How incredible was Duncan’s start? He outscored Miami’s Big Three by four points in the first half. James, notably, had nine points on three-for-nine shooting at the time.

The Spurs couldn’t capitalize. After shooting 58% in the first half, they made 16 of 49 shots (33%) the rest of the way.

Parker had 19 points and eight assists on a horrible shooting night, making only six of 23 attempts. Green cooled considerably from his previous Finals conquests, making one of seven shots and scoring three points.

Dwyane Wade had 14 points and appeared off his game after banging knees with Ginobili early in the first quarter. The often-ignored Mario Chalmers, though, scored 20 for the Heat.

In the end, the veteran who was so close to taking a fifth title had to compliment the youth who was just as close to falling to one for four in championship series.

“He played great down the stretch,” Duncan said of James. “He kind of willed it.”

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

Twitter: @Mike_Bresnahan