The Western Conference finals trophy was somewhere in the building. Security officials had been briefed on the presentation ceremony. An NBA official had a big bag of "Spurs Western Conference Champions" T-shirts and hats ready to distribute.

Even the local newspaper became proactive and started printing 15,000 ready-to-sell "SPURS WIN!" front pages.

Three hours later, they were headed straight for the recycling bin.

The Spurs' trip to the NBA Finals will have to wait. For now, they're only headed back to Dallas.

Unable to stop the Mavericks or hit their own shots, the Spurs surrendered a 19-point lead and lost 103-91. They walked out of the SBC Center not with a trophy, but empty-handed, both stunned and frustrated that they cling to a 3-2 lead in the series heading into Thursday's Game 6.

"It was straight out of a bad dream," David Robinson said. "But you have to use it as motivation to get going. Nothing you really want is going to be easy. You have to work hard for it. I'll guarantee we'll get focused for the next one."