Before he knocked down a three, before he drained a 15-footer, before he stirred memories of fourth quarter heroics against the Mavericks, Steve Kerr stuck a defensive dagger in the side of the Nets.

The wound that Kerr opened drew blood.

The wound that Kerr opened never closed.

The wound that Kerr opened bled and bled until Manu Ginobili and David Robinson sliced up the Nets some more.

The lingering images of Game 5 in the NBA Finals will be of Kerr making two clutch baskets in the final minutes to propel the Spurs to a 93-83 victory and a 3-2 lead.