An early confrontation between Brown and Finley helped get the crowd fired up.
Feeling he had been fouled by Duncan on a blocked shot under the basket, Brown stepped into Finley's path on his way back up the court and was called for a flagrant foul.
Finley stepped toward Brown and pushed the ball into Brown's chest as Horry approached. After the players were split up, Finley followed Brown as he backed toward midcourt and the two continued talking to each other.
"It was a physical game," Brown said. "I know everybody thinks I'm like St. Nick or Santa Claus -- which I am -- but I get a little heated, too. I'm human.
"Finley's a good guy. I wasn't trying to hurt him," Brown added. "I'd never try to hurt nobody or be malicious. I try to play the game hard. It was just one of those things. ... He just happened to be the next guy with the ball. It could have been anybody."