Heat beats Spurs to win NBA title

MIAMI --- LeBron James scored 37 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Miami Heat captured their second consecutive NBA Finals title by beating the San Antonio Spurs 95-88 in game seven on Thursday.

James, who was named playoff Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row, also nailed five 3-pointers and had four assists for the Heat, who won a third title to go with crowns in 2012 and 2006.

"It feels great. This team is amazing," James said. "The vision I had when I decided to come here has all come true. To win back-to-back championships is an unbelievable feeling."

Dwyane Wade added 23 points and 10 rebounds and Shane Battier came off the bench to score 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc for the Heat, the first team to win back-to-back titles since  the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010.

James earned his second championship ring for the Heat, who posted a league-best 66-16 regular-season record that included a 27-game winning streak, the second longest in league history.

It was a heartbreaking defeat for the Spurs and their first loss in five trips to the best-of-seven championship final.

San Antonio was just seconds from winning the NBA crown in game six but the Spurs blew a five-point lead late in regulation and then lost in overtime to set up the deciding game.

"Being so close and feeling that you are about to grab that trophy and then seeing it vanish is very hard," said the Spurs' Manu Ginobili. "I think if we would have lost both games like this (Thursday) I would have been a little more. (FREEMAN)