Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili rue giving away title Spurs almost had

Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili trudged off the court, their heads hanging, bald spots that come from more than a decade of games like this for all to see.

These proud San Antonio Spurs gave everything they had in game seven. And when their valiant fight fell just short, they could not stop thinking about the title they gave away two nights earlier.

"To be at this point with this team in this situation, where people every year continue to count us out, is a great accomplishment," said Duncan, his voice quivering in a rare show of emotion for the intensely private star. "To be in a game seven or be in a game six and up one with two chances to win an NBA championship, that's tough to swallow."

Duncan had 24, 12 rebounds and four steals and Ginobili scored 18 points with five assists. But Tony Parker struggled with just 10 points on 3-for-12 shooting and the Spurs were left lamenting the game six collapse that cost them their fifth title under coach Gregg Popovich.

"Being so close and feeling that you are about to grab that trophy and then seeing it vanish is very hard," Ginobili said. "If we would've lost both games like this, I would be a little more up."

The Spurs were in it the whole game, down 90-88 with two minutes to go after a 3-pointer by Kawhi Leonard. But Duncan missed two point blank chances to tie and had a turnover in the closing minutes, and LeBron James went out and grabbed the title that was there for the taking after the Spurs let it slip away.

"For me, game seven is always going to haunt me," Duncan said.