NBA Playoffs 2014 Bracket, Standings, Schedule & Finals: Kawhi Leonard Paces Spurs in Victory Over Miami Heat
The San Antonio Spurs beat the Miami Heat 111-92 in Game 3, and are now up 2-1 in the 2014 NBA Finals.
The first quarter was one of the best shooting displays you will ever see by a team, especially in the Finals. The Spurs scored 41 points in the first quarter, outscoring the Heat by 16 points. Overall, the Spurs shot an incredible 25-33 in the first half, including successfully making 19 of their first 21 shots. These are video game numbers.
Despite trailing by 21 points at halftime, the Heat soared back in the third quarter erasing the insurmountable deficit to just seven points with less than two minutes left. With the Spurs defense and Tony Parker struggling at this point in the game, the Spurs biggest shot of the night came from an unknown hero, Marco Belinelli.
Belinelli drilled a three point shot with the Heat down by just seven points at the end of the third quarter with 1:38 remaining. This was the biggest momentum shot of the night.
There's no doubt who the Most Valuable Player of Game 3 was, Kawhi Leonard. Leonard scored a career high 29 points, leading all players. Leonard was on fire from the opening tip off and he even hit three perimeter shots. If he can outscore LeBron James and Dwyane Wade going forward, the Spurs should have no problem. Leonard's biggest contribution, however, was not offensively. His defense against James was as good as you will see. This game was very winnable for the Heat, but James only scored one basket in the fourth quarter and had seven turnovers.
The Miami Heat shouldn't panic just yet. In last year's Finals, the Spurs took a 2-1 series lead by beating the Heat in Game 3 by 36 points. As many already know, the Heat haven't lost two consecutive playoff games in three years. It might be time for the Heat to take Mario Chalmers out of the starting lineup and put in Ray Allen instead. Allen is still an elite sharp shooter from the three point line and a great passer.
The air conditioning unit in Miami didn't have any technically difficulties, but James showed fatigue late in the game.
The most surprising stat from Game 3 was the Spurs outscored the Heat in fast break points, 12-4. The Heat "Big 3" shot 21-30 (70 percent) and still lost by 19 points. That's music to the Spurs ears. This is the Heat's first home loss of the postseason and Game 4 is a must-win for them. The Spurs don't have much pressure going into Thursday as they have regained home court advantage.
Game 4 tips off Thursday night at 9:00 on ABC.
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