Ray Allen (above) hit the game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime.
MIAMI — There is going to be a seventh game in South Beach after last night’s miracle in Miami.
In an instant classic, Ray Allen and his late-3-pointer saved LeBron James from a long summer as the Heat rallied from a 95-90 deficit in the final 29 seconds of regulation and survived Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Spurs in overtime, 103-100.
“We live to see another day,” James said. “It was by far the best game I’ve ever been a part of. The ups and downs, emotions, the roller coasters, good and bad. Once you’re done, you’ll never be able to recreate it again. ‘’
No team has won a Game 7 on the road since 1978.
James hit a 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in regulation to cut the five-point deficit to two. San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard missed one of two free throws, and the Heat trailed, 95-92, with 19 seconds left.
It turned out to be a huge miss. On the ensuing possession, James missed a 3-pointer, but Chris Bosh got the rebound, fed Allen in the right corner and he miraculously drained the game-tying 3-pointer with five seconds left to force overtime.
James waved his arms, hoping to get the pass, but Bosh got it to Allen.
“If it’s not me taking the shot I have no problem with Ray taking the shot, man,’’ James said. “He’s got ice water in his veins. Ray can be 0 for 99, and if he gets an open look late in the game, it’s going down. This is the reason we wanted him — in games like this.’’
James’ headband came off in the fourth quarter and so did the wheels to the Spurs’ championship dreams. Game 7 is tomorrow after Miami rallied from 10 points down entering the fourth quarter.
“The ball bounces in weird ways at the end of games, and we got a great bounce,’’ Allen said of the game-tying 3-pointer. “I’ll remember the shot for a long time.’’
In the final 30 seconds, the Heat players saw security guards with yellow tape cordoning off the perimeter of the court for a Spurs title celebration. It “angered’’ Chris Bosh, and now it won’t occur until tomorrow night.
“I noticed it,’’ James said. “It kind of did the same to all of us. That’s why you play the game until the final buzzer.’’
Tim Duncan had 30 points and 17 rebounds, but didn’t score in the fourth quarter or overtime.
James, who had a triple-double, finished with 32 points on 11-of-26 shooting and added 11 assists and 10 rebounds. James, who also had six turnovers, had wild swings to his own game after a shaky first three quarters, but he played hellbent basketball after losing his headband in the final period.
“I was just focused on the task at hand,’’ James said. “I was just being aggressive and find ways to help the team get back in the game. The headband was the least of my worries at that point.’’
In overtime, James scored in the lane to give the Heat a 101-100 lead with 1:10 left and it turned into the go-ahead hoop. Manu Ginobili, who played an awful game and committed eight turnovers, coughed up the ball. James lost it out of bounds on a fastbreak with 40.5 seconds left after being hounded by North Babylon native Danny Green.
But Tony Parker had his shot blocked, Ginobili got stripped again and Green had a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer blocked by Bosh to end the game. Green was shut down completely last night, shooting 1-of-7 for three points. San Antonio was held to just five points in the extra session.
“It’s a tough moment,’’ Ginobili said. “We were a few seconds away from winning the championship, and we let it go. You’re going to be thinking about what we could’ve done better in the last few possessions all night long, all tomorrow, to the next game.’’
James led a furious charge in the fourth to give the Heat a 3-point lead late in regulation before Tony Parker tied it at 89 with 1:30 left by burying a late-in-the-shot-clock 3-pointer, Parker hit another runner and the Spurs seized control. Until they didn’t.
After James stumbled again, throwing up an airball in the lane after being heavily contested by Leonard. Ginobili got fouled and made one of two foul shots for a 94-89 lead with 28 seconds left.
“Luck plays a part of it of course,’’ James said. “ We put ourselves in position to have luck.
“We don’t care how we’ve played so far whether it’s the worst six games of our lives. We got a Game 7 on our floor. Thursday is for all the marbles.’’