• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Last chance for LeBron, Cavs

Jun 14, 2007 - 1:09 PM San Antonio at Cleveland 9:00 pm EDT NBA Finals Spurs lead, 3-0

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are down to their final chance in the NBA Finals.

The Cavaliers try to stay alive when they host the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four of the Finals on Thursday.

The Spurs emerged victorious in a low-scoring battle of attrition in Game Three. They amended their usual big three, leaning on Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Bruce Bowen, who combined for 44 points in a rugged 75-72 victory over James and Cleveland.

San Antonio connected on 10-of-19 3-point shots - many of them of the back-breaking variety. No team in NBA history has recovered from such a deficit.

"Well, everybody has to still believe," James said. "You know, it's the first of four games (to come back and win). We have to come out aggressive and just continue to play hard. We gave ourselves a chance to win tonight, and that's all we can ask for."

James collected 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in Game Three.

With one more win, the Spurs will become just the fourth team in league history to win four championships, joining the Boston Celtics (16), Los Angeles Lakers (14) and Chicago Bulls (six).

On the verge of their fourth NBA title since 1999, the Spurs predictably have fed off their swarming defense. And entering Thursday's game, they are peaking at that end of the floor.

Coach Gregg Popovich, who is not know for throwing around superlatives, praised his team in no uncertain terms.

"I think I can honestly say that these three games (it) is the best defense we've played all season," he said. "This is the best defense we've played in the playoffs, and it has been back-to-back with a doubt."

James and the Cavaliers will have to find a way to break that defensive pressure in order to avoid an embarrassing defeat.