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Spurs spank Heat in NBA finals rematch

Since dropping in a career-best and franchise-record 61 points, LeBron James has struggled to put up 41 in his last two contests.

Miami Heat player LeBron James (C) against the San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs have defeated Miami Heat 111-87 in the second rematch of the NBA Finals. (AAP)

Tim Duncan had 23 points with 11 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs sent the two-time defending champion Miami Heat to its most-lopsided loss of the season, 111-87 on Thursday in the second rematch of the 2013 NBA Finals.

Tony Parker scored 17 points, fellow-Frenchman Boris Diaw had 16 and Kawhi Leonard added 11 for the Spurs (45-16), whose fifth straight win pulled them within one-half game of West-best Oklahoma City.

Chris Bosh tallied 24 points, LeBron James struggled to score 19 on 6-of-18 shooting, and Dwyane Wade had 16 for Miami (43-16), losers of two straight following an eight-game winning streak.

After dropping in a career-best and franchise-record 61 points on Monday, James has struggled to put up 41 in his last two contests.

The four-time league most valuable player shed his protective face mask in frustration at halftime after making 3-of-11 shots.

The Heat shot themselves in the foot, committing 21 turnovers, including a whopping 10 in the final quarter to result in 18 Spurs' points.

San Antonio dropped the first meeting by 12 in January but was in total control in the start-to-finish blowout.

The Spurs opened the first quarter hitting a sizzling 15-of-19 shots for 37-22 cushion, that swelled to as many as 17 en route to a 62-51 halftime advantage on 63 per cent field goal shooting.

The Heat came alive defensively and cut a 14-point third-quarter deficit to 79-74 on a pair of James' free throws with 2 minutes, 14 seconds left.

But Patty Mills drained a period-ending 3-pointer and the Spurs carried an 82-74 lead entering the final frame.

The Spurs started the fourth quarter on a 13-6 run capped by Leonard's steal and breakaway dunk along with six Heat turnovers to open up a 95-80 cushion, and coasted home with the runaway win.

Elsewhere: Gerald Green exploded for 25 of his career-high 41 points in the third quarter, and the Phoenix Suns stormed from 16 down to snap an 11-game slide against the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-122.

Darren Collison scored 24 points, Blake Griffin had 20 with 11 rebounds through three quarters, and the LA Clippers crushed their Staples Center co-tenant Lakers, 142-94, for the most lopsided victory in the all-time series en route to a season-high sixth straight win.

Spaniard Pau Gasol netted 21 points for the 16-time NBA Champion Lakers, who suffered their worst loss in franchise history.


3 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


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