The Finals - Game 4: Spurs sweep Cavaliers after Mills go-ahead 3PTer, win 98-101 (4-0).

With the shot clock set to expire, Patty Mills came through.

The Cavaliers finally got going in this series, but it was just too late and the basketball overseers would not let the San Antonio Spurs be denied. With the game deadlocked at 98-all, the shot clock went off as Patty Mills caught a desperate pass behind the 3PT line, letting the ball fly over two defenders--as it splashed in.

Mills' huge dagger would be the death knell for the Cavaliers, who failed to score in the final seconds despite a powerful showing in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, looking like the series would at least be going back to Texas for one more game. JR Smith hit a stepback 3PTer over Kawhi Leonard on the fast break to take an 85-88 lead with 3:45 remaining. Iman Shumpert would get hacked and make both free throws for the Spurs. LeBron James would make a layup over the defense, only to get the ball stolen next by a Shumpert/Gasol double team, only to steal it back from Kawhi Leonard, only for Leonard to pressure James into an errant pass up court that went long.

Kawhi's 3PTer would careen down the court, as LeBron recovered the loose ball for a smooth bank-shot for an 87-92 advantage. Leonard would redeed himself, making a long ball from the same spot. Tristan Thompson would miss a contested layup. Parker would dish the ball to Biyombo who would drive toward the rim but kick it back out to Leonard on the opposite wing this time, as Kawhi made a second 3PTer to give the Spurs the 93-92 lead. Dwyane Wade's hook shot would get stuffed at the rim by Biyombo, Shumpert would make 1 of 2 free throws, and Kyle Korver would make a layup (94-all, again). Pau Gasol would get free down low for the easy lay-in next as the final minute began.

Wade would draw the foul on Kawhi Leonard's full-court press (giving him 5 fouls) and make both free throws (with San Antonio in the penalty). Leave it to Pau Gasol once more to make a sweet and polished one-footed fadeaway off glass past Kevin Love for the 98-96 lead. Kevin Love would strike back after the timeout called by Cleveland, stepping past Josh Smith for the mid-range jumper.

29 seconds left, after a Spurs timeout. Inbound to Mills, pass to Kawhi, LeBron stiffs him with solid defense, shot clock down to 4.8s, Wade probing between Leonard and Mills, Kawhi dishes it to Patty. Wade is right there, hand up over Mills eye toward the basket, but he just misses the block attempt by mere inches. Cameras flash, the crowd's collective hands fall onto their heads with shock and dread.

Kevin Love made the last shot for the Cavaliers in the Finals.

 19.1 seconds now for the Cavaliers, inbound to Kevin Love. He misses the 3PTer, ball bounces around to LeBron James, whose tip-in also misses, the ball rolling slowly off the rim like a magnet being repelled by fate, as it were. The ball is gathered by Thompson, who dishes it quickly to James, who is open at the top of the key, yet the Cavaliers trail by 3 points. He passes it Dwyane Wade, whose 3PTer sails past Patty Mills, his defense not nearly as strong, but the ball bangs off the front of the rim, with 4 seconds left on the clock in the NBA Finals.

Only for Bismack Biyombo's big hands to yank the ball into San Antonio's possession. He passes quickly to Mills, who passes even more quickly to Josh Smith speeding up the court to run out the clock, and he passes to Kawhi Leonard who officially ends Cleveland's chances. The Spurs only won the field goal percentage and 3PT shooting columns tonight (52% to 45%; 45% to 43%). The Cavaliers missed one free throw, which would have probably meant LeBron taking that final shot (as they would only have been down by 2 points). Cleveland won every other column, 28 in fast break points, 44 points in the paint, 12 second chance points, 32 assists, 51 rebounds to San Antonio's 39. They even scored more in the final quarter (31-28), but a 27-22 start by the Spurs was enough as they also edged Cleveland 27-24 in the 3rd quarter. The Cavaliers had 10 steals on the night, but the Spurs had 14 blocks--including Biyombo on Wade late in the game.

Pau Gasol was stunning in the Finals, winning MVP honors.

Kawhi Leonard had 24 points, hitting those two huge 3PTers for his squad when they were on the brink of defeat, (6-9 from distance) with 2 blocks. Pau Gasol would receive Finals MVP honors, scoring 24 points with 8 rebounds here to go with 4 blocks. Patty Mills had just 14 points, including the shot of the Finals. Tony Parker had 13 points with 7 assists and Bismack Biyombo had 10 points with 12 rebounds and 6 blocks. Every other Spur struggled in this game, but as a unit, San Antonio was able to end things in dramatic fashion no less, but with promise as they will certainly be asking if they can do it yet again.

In the loss, LeBron James had 19 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists. JR Smith had 16 points. Tristan Thompson had 14 points with 9 rebounds. Dwyane Wade was 3-20 for just 11 points and 6 assists. Kyle Korver had 10 points; Kevin Love had 13 rebounds on just 9 points. Pau Gasol averaged 19.8 points and 7.8 rebounds on 69% shooting and 55% from 3PT territory with 3.8 assists, 2.3 blocks, 1.3 steals and just 1.0 turnovers per game for a very worthy Finals MVP award.