Spurs take 3- 2 lead

Surprise starter Ginobili helps lift team. Series returns to Miami for Game 6 Tuesday

Something had changed about Manu Ginobili’s supporters in this town.

The love wasn’t waning, but the faith most certainly was. Until Sunday.

Getting a surprise start from Gregg Popovich that will go down as the coach’s latest stroke of genius, Ginobili had 24 points and 10 assists in the San Antonio Spurs’ 114- 104 win against the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

“I didn’t expect it. I’ve been a backup for 80- 90 games,” Ginobili said about starting. “The way they were playing small, I wanted to play more minutes and ( Popovich) told me yesterday I’d start.”

Leading the series 3- 2, the Spurs head back to Miami for Game 6 on Tuesday with a chance to win the organization’s fifth championship. Since the league went to a 2- 3- 2 Finals format in 1985, and the series has been tied 2- 2, the Game 5 winner has won the series seven of 10 times.

One day before Ginobili’s vintage performance, he admitted there was a remote chance he would retire after this season when he becomes a free agent. Yet with his play stellar from beginning to end Sunday and the Heat unsure how to handle this new look, the Spurs found themselves dominating. Ginobili is the first player to start an NBA Finals game after not starting in the regular season since Marcus Camby did it for the New York Knicks in 1999.

“I just had a good game. Playing with ( point guard) Tony ( Parker) in the first few minutes helped me,” Ginobili said. “I tried to be aggressive. I haven’t been making shots lately, but I’ve been passing well. Today, I was just able to get it going.”

The Spurs shot 60% from the field, with forward Tim Duncan adding 17 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Danny Green scored 24 points, hitting six of 10 from long range to set a Finals record for three- pointers. Heat shooting guard Ray Allen had set the record of 22 in the 2008 Finals with the Boston Celtics. Green has hit 25 of 38 three- pointers in the series.

“( Danny) has been great, and I can’t believe he is still open at this point in the series,” Parker said.

Parker showed no ill effects of the hamstring strain that ails him, scoring 26 points.

The Heat were held to 43% shooting, with LeBron James unable to continue the powerful play he had shown in Game 4, as he hit eight of 22 shots for 25 points. Dwyane Wade had another good game with 25 points and 10 assists. Allen scored 21 off the bench.