Date:09/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/09/stories/2007060904141900.htm

Sport - Basketball

Spurs draws first blood

SAN ANTONIO: San Antonio Spurs used a harassing, double-team defence to fluster LeBron James and beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 85-76 in the opening game of the NBA Finals at the AT& T Center here on Thursday.

James, who averaged 26 points in the playoffs, scored only 14 on four-of-16 shooting from the floor against San Antonio.

Tony Parker paced the Spurs with 27 points and seven assists. Tim Duncan, already a three-times MVP in the finals, added 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting.

San Antonio is shooting for its fourth title since 1999 while Cleveland is appearing in the championship round for the first time in the franchise's 37-year history.

Game Two in the best-of-seven series is on Sunday in San Antonio. — Agencies