MIAMI — The Heat’s strategy last night was to take away the 3-point line in which Danny Green had prospered and let the chips fall where they may.
The chips fell to Tim Duncan, who at age 37 was putting together a monstrous performance, scoring 25 points by halftime, 30 points after three quarters, dominating the paint against single coverage, going after his fifth ring with gusto.
But ultimately, the Heat managed to shut down not only Green but Duncan too. An exhausted “Big Fundamental” went scoreless in the final period and overtime as the Spurs blew their 13-point late-third-quarter lead and fell 103-100 in overtime in a Game 6 classic.
“I did have opportunities, I just missed shots,’’ said Duncan, who was a remarkable 11 of 13 at halftime, making his first eight buckets in the paint. He finished with 30 points on 13-for-21 shooting and grabbed 17 rebounds.
After tearing up the NBA Finals in the first five games Green struggled, finishing with three points and went 1-for-7 from the field.
Before tip-off, Miami’s Chris Bosh issued a challenge to Green, perhaps trying to rattle him.
Bosh said the Heat won’t let him get a free shot again, and the Heat lived up to its claim.
“He has a knack for shooting, but he won’t be open tonight,’’ Bosh said at the morning shootaround. “We’ll see how he shoots with somebody always on him.”
Not well. Green, a North Babylon native was completely shut down.
“This will be a tough one to shake off,’’ Green said. “But we will have to.’’
Fittingly, Green took the Spurs’ final attempt, a desperation 3-pointer from the corner that was blocked by Bosh at the buzzer.
Through five games entering last night’s Game 6, Green already had smashed the finals record for most 3-pointers with 25, topping Heat sixth man Ray Allen. Green, once LeBron James’ teammate in Cleveland, was shooting a ridiculous 25 of 38 from behind the arc before returning to Earth.
Green, though, wasn’t as bad as Manu Ginobili, who had eight turnovers, after his bust-out Game 5.
“He’ll be just fine,’’ Duncan said. “He’ll blame himself and put it on himself. It will make him more aggressive to play the next one.’’
* Tony Parker, who was on bench during the late seconds of overtime, said he was “cramping’’ at the end of the game. … Tomorrow will be the 18th Game 7 in NBA Finals history. The home team has a 14-3 record, with the last road winner in 1978 with Washington winning in Seattle.
* Heat big man Chris Andersen, who did not play in Games 4 and 5, played 14:20. He’s a free agent this summer and the Knicks have expressed interest. They talked to his agent last summer and again in January before he signed with Miami.