San Antonio point guard Patty Mills has repaid the faith of coach Gregg Popovich after starring in the Spurs' crucial game five victory against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
Mills hit what would have been a game-winning three-pointer in regulation but the basket was ruled out after the 28-year-old Canberran was just beaten by the shot clock.
The Spurs rallied to win 110-107 in the series go-ahead game, with Mills clocking an epic 43 minutes and 20 points, including a clutch three-pointer with just two minutes remaining to keep the Spurs in touching distance.
Mills made five baskets from down town and was just as strong on defence as he contained Rockets superstar James Harden and made a crucial defensive play in the dying seconds.
"I was just trying to keep the boys in good spirits ... let them know whatever the case was, we've still got this," Mills told reporters after the game.
"It was a gutsy win and everyone that came on the court made an impact. That's huge ... it's trust and everyone stepped up."
Asked what Mills provided in his first career play-off start, he said: "Just passion to start with. We let an opportunity slip in game four so first it was passion and letting everyone know how hungry I am and we are to win this series."
San Antonio clinched victory thanks to a veteran Manu Ginobili and MVP-chance Kawhi Leonard, but it was Mills who showed his class with the game on the line.
With veteran point guard Tony Parker ruled of the season with a leg injury in game two, Mills was promoted to Spurs' starting point guard for the first time in the series for the crucial home game.
He showed his scoring class and plenty of defensive hussle to help the Spurs get a massive win.
Popovich kept Mills on the bench and started rookie Dejounte Murray for games three and four but went with the Australian Boomers' gun in game five and the decision paid dividends.
Popovich praised Mills' scoring power and performance, while acknowledging the game could have gone either way at the death.
"Patty did tonight what he's done for us the entire time he's been here and given the circumstances we just wanted to start out better offensively and not get in a hole against these guys, because if you get behind you've got big problems," Popovich said.
"Everybody pulled together and really played some good defence. The competitiveness was just off the charts, we're obviously thrilled with the victory [because] we would have really been in a hole and either team could have won the team down the stretch."
The Spurs now lead the Rockets 3-2 in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series and can punch their ticket to the Western Conference final with a win in Houston on Friday morning.
"The one percenters were huge in the fourth quarter and overtime. But we're not smiling, we know it's one win and we've got to go to Houston, we're expecting them to bring out their guns," Mills said.
"This is the play-offs and everyone always finds another juice tank ... We've got one more to get."
