MIAMI — Tony Parker said his shotclock-beating, off-the-deck, off-the-backboard, 16-footer will rank as the top bucket of his career — but only if the Spurs win the title in the next 10 days.
The French point guard was the hero of Thursday’s NBA Finals Game 1 with his 21 points, six assists, no turnovers and clutch, double-pump basket through LeBron James with 5.2 seconds left. Parker made the leaner after he stumbled to the court, to his knees and lifted himself up, releasing the shot with 0.1 seconds left on the 24-second shot-clock to put the Spurs up four.
“You have to put it in my top three for sure,’’ Parker said after Friday’s practice at AmericanAirlines Arena. “Maybe No. 1 because it’s the NBA Finals. [But] it will only mean something if we win the championship. That’s why like all my friends, my family, they were going crazy. I’m like, you have to stop going crazy. We only won one game.
“But if we go all the way, yes, that shot you can put it No. 1. So you’re going to have to ask me that question in 10 days.’’
Parker has had a brilliant postseason, averaging 23 points. The trio of Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili go for their 100th playoff win as a trio in Game 2 tomorrow.
“After that shot [Thursday], he’s covered the gamut,’’ Duncan said. “He’s been just an incredible force for us. I’m really proud he’s really doing all that he can to get us to the finals and hopefully win this whole thing. I can see it on his face after the game, he’s absolutely worn out having left everything out there.’’
Parker’s zero turnovers — San Antonio had a Finals-record four — also contributed to the Spurs’ 92-88 win over the Heat.
“I think it’s very unique for him not to have any turnovers versus our defense,’’ James said.
* Ginobili on the Spurs’ four turnovers: “It’s remarkable — even against a team that doesn’t pressure you like Miami. It’s going to be hard to repeat. It was the key to the game. You turn it over, they get an easy fastbreak, get fired up and it snowballs.’’
* Long Island’s Danny Green had an excellent finals debut, making four 3-pointers, including a huge one with 2:02 left, and finished with 12 points. Green, however, nearly became a goat when he fouled Ray Allen on a 3-pointer in the final minute well after his release. Allen made all three free throws to cut the Spurs lead to two.
“I didn’t realize how close I was to him,’’ Green said. “I tried to hold him up and stop myself. It was a bad play by my part.’’
Nevertheless, the Spurs likely would not have won without his 3-point marksmanship.
“He did what he’s done most of the year,’’ Ginobili said of the North Babylon product. “He made shots — 4-of-9 in an NBA Final, not bad at all.’’