SAN ANTONIO (NBA) - The San Antonio Spurs geared themselves up for a major battle against the two-time defending champions Miami Heat but ended up winning the fifth title in club history at a canter.

Kawhi Leonard, the NBA Finals MVP, provided a lot of the inspiration in a 104-87 triumph in Texas on Sunday as the Spurs clinched a 4-1 series victory.

The forward led San Antonio in scoring in the final three contests and also shot a scintillating 57.9 percent from behind the arc in the five games.

Likely to feature for the USA at this summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup, Leonard had 22 points, 10 rebounds, a steal and a block in Game 5.

He was superb, yet more than any single player, the Spurs' commitment to making the extra pass and their excellent team defense is what has the basketball world buzzing.

San Antonio were mesmerizing with their passing game in the playoffs.

On Sunday, they had 25 assists to just 14 for Miami.

"There were some possessions on the court and seeing what was going on, some others on the bench, I was so proud," said San Antonio's veteran guard Manu Ginobili of Argentina.

"Sometimes I felt like saying, 'Wow, this is sweet.' It was really fun to play like this."

Boris Diaw, a player in search of his first NBA title, did a little bit of everything to help San Antonio win.

France's national team captain had nine rebounds and six assists to go with his five points in Game 5.

Diaw was so important to the Spurs that coach Gregg Popovich moved him into the starting lineup during the Finals.

On Sunday, he played 38 minutes.

L'Equipe asked Diaw after the game if things could get any better.

"In two months, the World Cup, it can be even better," he answered.

Diaw, who also helped France capture their first EuroBasket crown last summer with Spurs teammate Tony Parker, will in 75 days lead Les Bleus onto the court in Granada when they compete at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Group A against hosts Spain, Serbia, Brazil, Iran and Egypt.

"You take what you can," Diaw said.

"To live those great moments is why I play basketball. We must keep up this momentum. Tony and I, we are missing a World Cup.

"On the podium, I asked him: 'You do not want to do it again in two months?'"

Parker, the EuroBasket 2013 MVP, long ago decided not to play for the national team this summer.

Pat Mills of Australia had his biggest game of the NBA Finals, drilling five of eight shots from long range and scoring 17 points in just 18 minutes.

Mills will play with the Boomers at Spain 2014 in Gran Canaria against Group D opponents Slovenia, Lithuania, Mexico, Korea and Angola.

San Antonio very nearly won last year's NBA Finals but the Heat stunned them with a late comeback in Game 6 and then prevailed back in Miami in Game 7.

"To be so close last year, it was very cruel," Parker said.

"But that's the beauty of sport. Sometimes it's tough. And sometimes it can be beautiful like today, because it shows a lot of character of the team to take a loss and to come back the following year and win the whole thing."

Tim Duncan captured his fifth NBA crown and signed off from the Finals with 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

The 38-year-old has yet to decide if he is going to continue playing.

"I don't have any plans on doing anything," Duncan said.

"I'm going to figure it out when it comes. I'm not saying I'm retiring. I'm not saying I'm not retiring. I'm not saying anything. I'm going to figure it out as it goes.

"I've always said if I feel like I'm effective, if I feel like I can contribute, I'll continue to play.

"Right now I feel that way, so we'll see what happens.

"Whatever people are saying or who has insight on whatever, they're getting it from somewhere else because I haven't told anybody anything nor have I thought about it in any respect."

FIBA