5 Worst Losses of Tim Duncan's Career

#2 Pistons 102-71 Spurs, 17th June 2005

The 2005 NBA Finals between the Spurs and Pistons ended up being a proper slugfest between two of the best defensive teams in the 2000s but it sure didn't start off that way. After 3 blowouts to start the Finals, Game 4 delivered the most lopsided result of them all.

The suffocating Detroit Pistons' defense shut down Duncan, who shot 5-17 but still managed 16 points and 16 rebounds. Ginobili and Parker managed to get to double digits but that was it and even they only managed 12 apiece. The Spurs shot just 37% from the field and committed 17 turnovers. Detroit's offense meanwhile was rolling. Seven players scored in double figures with Chauncey Billups leading the way with 17 and the Pistons committed just 3 turnovers.

It's the worst defeat in any Finals game in the history of the Spurs franchise, but the pain of this thumping wouldn't last for long. While the first 4 games were lopsided, the following 3 produced some epic encounters and the Spurs ended up winning it in 7 games to deny Detroit back-to-back titles.