USA - Superb James helps Heat level Finals

SAN ANTONIO (NBA) - Miami Heat superstar LeBron James spent important minutes on the bench of the team'’s defeat to the San Antonio Spurs in the Game 1 of the NBA Finals because of leg cramps.

The superstar had no such problems in Game 2 on Sunday, pouring in 35 points as the Heat bounced back from the 110-95 setback with a 98-96 win to even the best-of-seven game series.

James, who hit 14 of his 22 shots from the field and connected on all three of his attempts from long range, also had three assists and one of them helped his side take the lead for good.

With 1:18 remaining and Miami trailing 93-92, James dribbled to the left of the free-throw line.

As the Spurs defenders tried to get in his way, he passed to his wide-open teammate Chris Bosh, who was standing behind the arc and in front of the San Antonio bench.

The left-handed jump shooter Bosh buried the three-ball for a 95-93 advantage and the Heat held on for victory to take home-court advantage away from the Spurs.

James, hailed for being the dominant player on the court normally for his scoring, showed he can be the provider when needed.

"He's the most unselfish player I've ever played with, and especially with the talent that he has playing the game, the way he plays the game," Bosh said.

"He doesn't, you know, try to force anything.

"Even if he is hot, he'll still hit you if you're wide open. And that's what makes this team special because your best player is willing to sacrifice a shot, a good shot for a great shot."

Bosh and fellow Heat star know Dwyane Wade know James as well as anyone.

The trio is gunning for a third consecutive title with Miami, and the three also all played on the USA Olympic team together in 2008 when the Americans captured the gold medal at the Beijing Games.

Manu Ginobili, San Antonio's Argentinian national team star, says it's going to be an immense challenge for the Spurs to win the series.

"We've got to be close to perfect to win and today we were far from it," he said.

"Now we are in a tough situation because we've got to go to Miami and get one.

Game 3 is on Tuesday night in Florida.

"We don't want to come back here down 3-1," Ginobili said.

"It's tough to come back from that."

San Antonio got a lot of production from their ‘big three’ of Ginobili (19 points), Tim Duncan (18 points and 15 rebounds) and Tony Parker (21 points and seven assists), yet no other player hit double-digits.

Where the Spurs hurt themselves the most was at the free-throw line, sinking 12 of 20 (60 percent) compared to 16 of 21 (76 percent) for Miami.

The Heat were frustrated not only with their opening game defeat, but the way they lost.

The air conditioning didn't work that night and that likely led to James' cramps.

"We have a very competitive group and you have two days to commiserate how that game went down," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

"It was frustrating, painful going through that for two days and now we have to manage the other emotion."

FIBA