MIAMI -- The Miami Heat werent supposed to be in this situation. Not now, anyway. Coming home from Texas with their season on the line in 2011 was one thing. They were at the end of their first year together -- LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh still trying to figure it all out and clearly a long way from it. But this season, they were the NBAs best team, one that lost three games in three months and made losing three times in one series look unlikely, if not downright unimaginable. The San Antonio Spurs can finish Miami off Tuesday night in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, reaffirming themselves as one of the leagues greatest franchises. If so, the Heats Big Three once again go from celebrated to devastated. "Were going to see if were a better team than we were our first year together," James said. The Spurs took a 3-2 lead with their 114-104 victory Sunday night. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were all brilliant again, and Danny Green added to what could become one of the most out-of-nowhere finals MVP campaigns ever. One more victory makes the Spurs 5-0 in the NBA Finals, keeping pace with Michael Jordans 6-0 Chicago Bulls as the only teams to make it here multiple times and never lose. "We understand Game 6 is huge," Parker said. "Obviously, you want to finish in the first opportunity you get. We understand that Miami is going to come out with a lot more energy, and theyre going to play better at home. Theyre going to shoot the ball better. Their crowd is going to be behind them." None of that mattered two years ago. Clearly reeling and their psyches shaken after dropping two straight games in Dallas, the Heat were blitzed early in Game 6. They never recovered, Bosh inconsolable as he made his way back to the locker room afterward while the Mavericks celebrated at centre court. James had to endure the criticisms that came with not getting it done in the finals, a story line that was put to rest last year but will be back again if the Heat dont manage to put together consecutive victories. "We challenge ourselves to see if were a better team than we were," Wade said. "Same position no matter how we got to it." The Heat would also host Game 7 on Thursday. Theyre trying to join the 1988 and 2010 Los Angeles Lakers and 1994 Houston Rockets as the only teams to rally from 3-2 down by winning the final two on their home floor since the NBA Finals went to a 2-3-2 format in 1985. Of course, the Heat -- who won 27 in a row during the second-longest winning streak in league history -- havent put together consecutive victories now in close to a month. "Were in a position where its a must-win and everything that weve done all year comes to this point, and we have to win," Heat guard Ray Allen said. "Weve found ourselves in so many situations this year, and weve thrived in tough moments because this is a tough team. We will be ready for Game 6." So will the Spurs, and the Heat know it. "Im sure this team, theyve been here before many times. They understand winning that last game is one of the hardest things youre going to do. And we understand it as well," Wade said. "But you know what? Its the game; weve got to play it. I like our chances, just like they like their chances, in this series and in Game 6. Well see. Well see which team, which style is going to prevail." Their four titles have made the Spurs respected but never beloved. Their first, in 1999, came following a 50-game lockout season, and they certainly werent the team to help the NBA regain its jilted fan base. Victories in 2003 over New Jersey, 2005 over Detroit and 2007 over James Cleveland Cavaliers were all low-rated, lukewarm-interest series in which the Spurs were supposed to win and did, just not in a way that erased the idea that they had boring players with a boring brand of basketball. Win this one, though, and they will surely get their due. They would be knocking off the leagues winningest team and the games best player, with Duncan at 37 and Ginobili soon to be 36, behind a more wide-open offence that has helped Green break Allens finals record for 3-pointers. Not that theyre thinking about that, or anything else beyond Game 6 at this point. "Well reflect back and let it hit us when its over. We still have a lot more work to do. Theres still some business to be done. We have to carry it out and finish it," said Green, who was cut previously by the Cavaliers and Spurs and now has made 25 3-pointers in the first five games. It looked as though the game was finally passing by the Spurs last year, when the young Oklahoma City Thunder blew by them with four straight victories after San Antonio had taken a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals. The Heat routed the Thunder for the championship and the Spurs brought back essentially the same team, believing another year in their system for players like Green and Kawhi Leonard was a better option than seeking out some quick-fix outsider. Thats almost always been the Spurs way, and its on the verge of again being the model for an NBA title -- at the expense of the Miami one that once appeared to be the way champions would be built. "I think every one of us wants this very badly from the top on down," Duncan said. "Were trying to play that way."Custom Ed Oliver Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. Ed Oliver Jersey Large . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. http://www.custombillsjersey.com/ .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. Custom Bills Jerseys . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Custom Bills Jersey China . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries.LINCOLN, Neb. -- Creightons 90-points-a-game offense didnt show up until late against Nebraska.No problem. The 10th-ranked Bluejays were still more than good enough to beat their in-state rival again.Maurice Watson Jr. scored a season-high 25 points, Cole Huff added 13 and Creighton dominated the second half in a 77-62 victory Wednesday night.We had to win kind of an ugly game, and they were trying to make us play that way, Bluejays coach Greg McDermott said. Thats probably the fewest fast-break points weve had all season. I like to think our pace wears you out over time, and we had a hard time with it.The Bluejays (9-0) have won 15 of 18 meetings with the Cornhuskers (5-4), including the last six by double digits.Tai Webster had 16 points and Ed Morrow had 13 rebounds for the Huskers, who trailed 31-30 at halftime but went scoreless for 6 1/2 minutes in the second half. Creighton bolted to a 51-37 lead, and in the last 3 minutes it was a 21-point game.It makes me disappointed and sick to my stomach we couldnt foster a better fight, Huskers coach Tim Miles said. I thought we were in good shape until Tai picked up his fourth foul, and then we went on a long, long drought.Watson carried the scoring load in the Bluejays first true road game as Nebraska clamped down on Marcus Foster and Justin Patton. Foster had seven points and Patton had nine, both season lows.The Cornhuskers defense left driving lanes open for Watson, and the senior point guard took advantage. He made 10 of 20 shots. Hes never taken more than 21 shots in his career.My teammates kept saying for me to go, go go, and I kind of got comfortable, Watson said.The Huskers shot 32.4 percent overall and were just 3 of 22 on 3-point attempts.We took too many of them, Webster said. Like Coach Milees says: `Love the 2, like the 3.ddddddddddddThats when were at our best.Creightons Toby Hegner dunked with 3 1/2 minutes left, prompting the small contingent of Bluejays fans to chant C-U, C-U as the Nebraska faithful began heading to the exits. Big Red fans who remained booed Davion Mintzs fast-break dunk in the final seconds.The victory allowed Creighton to tie the all-time series 25-25.THE BIG PICTURECreighton: The Bluejays first road trip was a bumpy ride. The flow was choppy, and they couldnt get moving at the speed they like until after the game was decided.Nebraska: The Huskers are not a good offensive team to begin with, and they were worse than that against the Bluejays. You cant be that inept on offense and expect to win, Miles said.PATTON KEPT IN CHECKPatton, the Bluejays 7-foot redshirt freshman, was held under 10 points for the first time in nine games. He did have eight rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal.Its his first time playing in front of a crowd totally against us, and hell learn from it, McDermott said.HE SAID ITIf this doesnt hurt you, nothing does. If youre (home) tonight in another 20 minutes and playing video games until 1 a.m., you dont really care. Youve got to hate losing. Weve got teach them how to win, too. -- Miles.POLL IMPLICATIONSCreighton is No. 10 for the second straight week and is in no danger of dropping in the Top 25 after a convincing win over Nebraska and a near gimme at home on Friday against Longwood.UP NEXTCreighton hosts Longwood on Friday.Nebraska visits No. 3 Kansas on Saturday.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 . ' ' '