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With Finals tied 2-2, a historical look at Game 5 results

Miami Heat Victory Parade And Rally

MIAMI, FL - JUNE 25: The Larry O’Brien Trophy sits on display during a celebration for the 2012 NBA Champion Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on June 25, 2012 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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As we prepare for Sunday night’s critical Game 5 between the Heat in the Spurs, it’s worth taking a look back through history to see how things have gone down in similar situations.

John Schuhmann of NBA.com gives us the goods.

Game 5 results with Finals tied 2-2, since 1985 (winner in CAPS)

YearAwayScoreHomeScoreSeries result
1985Boston111L.A. LAKERS120L.A. in 6
1988L.A. Lakers94DETROIT104L.A. in 7
1992CHICAGO119Portland106Chicago in 6
1994Houston84NEW YORK91Houston in 7
1997CHICAGO90Utah88Chicago in 6
2003SAN ANTONIO93New Jersey83San Antonio in 6
2005*SAN ANTONIO96Detroit95San Antonio in 7
2006*Dallas100MIAMI101Miami in 6
2010L.A. Lakers86BOSTON92L.A. in 7
2011Miami103DALLAS112Dallas in 6

* Game 5 went to overtime

A few notes:

- Home court advantage is minimal when the two best teams are fighting to win a game that puts them one step away from the title. Six of the 10 contests have been won by the home team, four by the visitors. However, when the visiting team has won, it’s gone on to win the championship at home every single time.

- The importance of winning Game 5 cannot be understated, as seven of the 10 teams that did went on to win the championship.

- Four times out of these 10, the series went all seven games. The Game 5 winner went just 2-2 in those deciding contests.

- The Heat and the Spurs are no strangers to being in this situation. Each team has been here twice before, with the Spurs winning Game 5 in both 2003 and 2005 on the way to titles in both years. The Heat won their Game 5 battle in 2006 before securing a championship, but lost Game 5 (and later, the title) to Dallas in 2011.