The 30 greatest NBA team rivalries in league history
14. Best NBA rivalries of all-time: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs
When it comes to most rivalries, there tends to be a certain level of disdain for the opposition. The Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs, were different, always seeming to have immense respect for the other’s craft, despite going to war with a championship on the line in consecutive seasons.
We begin in 2013 where the Heat were looking for back-to-back titles and the Spurs were looking for their fifth if the Duncan era after eight years of waiting. San Antonio was always in control, building up a series lead their opponent was forced to climb out of with constant heroics, none more thrilling than in Game 6.
After LeBron James led a furious double-digit comeback late in the fourth, the Spurs — up 3-2 in the series — managed to pull away late by five points. The now infamous neon ropes began circling the court at the American Airlines Arena with full expectations of a forthcoming championship celebration.
A couple of missed free throws and made shots had Miami down just three points. James missed a 3-pointer, Chris Bosh got the rebounds and Ray Allen etched his place in postseason lore with a huge corner triple that tied the game.
The Spurs were devastated but were forced to carry on following an improbable collapse. Unfortunately, the Heat proved to be too much at that point, winning Game 6 in overtime and going on to win the title in a slugfest of a Game 7.
Comeback stories are all too prevalent in sports and San Antonio made sure to be no different. The Spurs came into the following season as focused as ever, hell-bent on righting such a terrible wrong from the year prior.
They wouldn’t just return to the NBA Finals and face off against Miami once again. As a small ounce of payback for the emotional lows they faced, the Spurs embarrassed the two-time defending champs by a record margin to take home the NBA championship in a convincing five-game series.
Both teams showed incredible amounts of respect independent of where they sat once the series was over. It wasn’t your traditional back and forth, but the basketball was all the same, played at the highest level by two of the league’s best.