Year-ender: Five best performances of 2014

Updated: 2014-12-31 10:32

(Agencies)

SAN ANTONIO SPURS (BASKETBALL)

San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) celebrates after game five of the 2014 NBA Finals at AT&T Center in San Antonio in this Jun 15, 2014 file phot. The Spurs beat the Heat 104-87 to win the NBA Finals. [Photo/Agencies]

With an inspiring display of teamwork and skill, relentless ball movement and dedicated defense, the San Antonio Spurs ended the two-year reign of the Miami Heat and LeBron James as NBA champions with a sublime run to the title.

The selfless Spurs, with a roster full of international players led by an ageless core of Tim Duncan, French point guard Tony Parker and Argentine swingman Manu Ginobili, won in five games, taking each of their four wins by 15 points or more.

Kawhi Leonard, 23, was named Finals MVP after successfully duelling James, who left Miami to return home to the Cavaliers after the Heat's streak of 11 straight playoff series wins was snapped by the Spurs, whose 70-point differential and 52.8 percent shooting from the field were both Finals records.