Thursday's decider will be the first Game 7 to be played in an NBA Finals since the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics in 2010.

Across three NBA championships and more than 100 playoff victories together, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have built a bond most teammates will never share.

The San Antonio Spurs returned to the NBA Finals on Thursday just the way they left

Tim Duncan had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs held off the Golden State Warriors 95-88 on Friday to extend their home winning streak to 14 games.

San Antonio opened a 3-1/2 game gap atop the Southwest Division with its win over Brooklyn, with Tony Parker scoring 20 points and Tim Duncan adding 15. The Spurs went 9-0 at home in December.

The San Antonio Spurs mowed down another opponent, using their guile under pressure to close out another perfect playoff series.

Tim Duncan had 26 points and 10 rebounds following an eight-day layoff for the top-seeded Spurs, who wore down Los Angeles in the Clippers' sixth game in 11 days and won Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series, 108-92 on Tuesday.

Tony Parker scored 28 points as San Antonio beat Utah to win their playoff opener for the first time in four years.

The San Antonio Spurs routed Los Angeles 121-97 in the NBA on Friday, with the Lakers receiving no boost from the return of Kobe Bryant from injury.

Tim Duncan had 10 points and 16 rebounds as San Antonio won its ninth straight game, recovering to beat Boston after blowing a 17-point, first-half lead.