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Parker, Spurs aim to win Game Two vs. Cavaliers

Jun 10, 2007 - 1:20 PM Cleveland (50-32) at San Antonio (58-24) 9:00 pm EDT NBA Finals Game Two

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Despite the outcome of last year's NBA Finals, Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs know that winning their first two home games can lead to ultimate victory.

Parker and the Spurs look to continue their homecourt advantage when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the NBA Finals on Sunday.

San Antonio defeated Cleveland, 85-76, on Thursday for its fourth victory in four tries in Game One Finals appearances. Parker was a catalyst, scoring a game-high 27 points while handing out seven assists.

The sixth-year Frenchman was ably assisted by nine-time All-Star Tim Duncan, who posted 24 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks for the Spurs, who have won three straight to up their record to 13-4 in the playoffs.

San Antonio will pull out all the stops to win Game Two as well. Since the NBA adopted a 2-3-2 format for the finals in 1985, 10 times the home team has won the first two games, and on nine of those occasions that club has gone on and won the championship.

However in 2006, the Dallas Mavericks won their first two at American Airlines Arena, only to watch the underdog Miami Heat win four straight on the strength of Dwyane Wade's outstanding performance.

The Spurs hopefully won't let superstar LeBron James go on a similar sort of run.

James had his second lowest scoring effort of these playoffs when the three-time All-Star was held to 14 points on 4-of-16 shooting. The 22-year old, who had only 10 points in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons, tied his 2006-playoff high with six turnovers and was frustrated by the exploits of defender Bruce Bowen, who has finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year the past three seasons.

James could also use better support from teammates such as Zydrunas Ilgauskas and guard Larry Hughes. Ilgauskas, a former two-time All-Star, scored two points on 1-of-8 from the field.

Hughes, still clearly bothered by a foot injury, watched Parker go by him numerous times, while he himself had just two points. The Cavaliers may have to make the adjustment and start rookie Daniel Gibson, who scored 16 points in 28 minutes off the bench. Gibson has scored in double digits in four straight games, including a season-high 31 in the Game Six clincher vs. Detroit.

There is a ray of hope for Cleveland. Since the current finals format began 22 years ago, the road team has split the first two games 10 times and has gone on to win the title on three occasions, including the Pistons in 2004.