Robert Horry nailed the decisive three-pointer with 5.8 seconds left in overtime as the San Antonio Spurs moved to within a game of the NBA title with a 96-95 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.

Tim Duncan scored 26 points to lead San Antonio to victory in the first tight game of the series as the Spurs took a 3-2 lead over the defending champions in the best-of-seven Finals.

Duncan also had 19 rebounds, but missed six free throws in the final quarter, almost costing the Spurs the win.

Boasting five NBA title victories in his career and renowned for his clutch shooting ability, Horry added 21 points for San Antonio and went five-for-six on his three-point attempts.

"He was unbelievable," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said of Horry. "He's just got a great sense about him. He's a really smart player."

After two sub-par games, Manu Ginobili had 15 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Spurs, including an assist on Horry's game-winner.

"He made an unbelievable shot," Ginobili said.

"He's a winner. He's been in this situation so many times. He knows what it takes."

Chauncey Billups led the Pistons with 34 points, Richard Hamilton had 15 and Ben Wallace added 13 with 12 rebounds.

The Pistons had one more chance to win the game, but Hamilton's last shot missed, making Horry the hero.

"He [Horry] was big, that's what he does," Billups said.

"That's why he has so many championship rings.

"He made all the right plays at the right time."

BROWN DEJECTED

Detroit coach Larry Brown was clearly dejected after the loss.

"This was tough," Brown said. "We had a great opportunity.

"It's the kind of a game where you hate to see anybody lose, so we've got to bounce back."

The teams now return to San Antonio for Game Six on Tuesday and if necessary, a seventh and deciding contest two days later.

Champions in 1999 and 2003, the Spurs scored the first four points of the game before the Pistons took an early 13-6 lead.

However, San Antonio cut the margin to 23-21 after the first quarter and led by as many as nine points in the second, before Detroit rallied to tie the game 42-42 at halftime following a 13-4 run.

After four lopsided games to start the series, Game Five was close throughout, with the lead changing hands several times in the third quarter before Horry gave notice of what was to come with a final-second three-pointer that put the Spurs 64-63 ahead with 12 minutes remaining.

That set the stage for a tension-filled final quarter, with the game knotted on nine different occasions before the extra period.

Detroit scored the first four points of overtime, but the Spurs stayed close enough to give Horry a chance to seal a memorable victory.