Spurs Claim Revenge, Secure Tight Win Over Heat
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Miami Heat, 107-102, at AT&T Center on Sunday afternoon.
The Spurs (18-23) snapped their two-game losing streak with a huge win over the Heat (29-13), arguably one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season, and they avenged the defeat they suffered against the Florida-based franchise earlier this week. This time, Miami got off to a stronger start since they led 31-28 following the first quarter, but San Antonio responded with a 32-23 second-quarter score that saw them grab the lead for good. Miami won 30-26 in the third quarter and made things closer, but the Spurs stopped any potential rally with a 21-18 fourth quarter that sealed the deal for them. With the win, the Spurs moved to 12-10 at home while the Heat fell to 11-12 on the road.
LaMarcus Aldridge led the way for the Spurs with 21 points, four rebounds and three assists, while DeMar DeRozan chipped in with 20 points, nine boards and nine assists. Patty Mills emerged as a reliable scoring threat off the bench since he ended with 18 points, five boards and three assists. Marco Belinelli had 12 points as substitute, and Derrick White contributed 11 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Bam Adebayo led the way for the Heat since he ended with 21 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Jimmy Butler had 16 points, six assists and five rebounds. Kendrick Nunn chipped in with 18 points while also adding four assists and two steals. Duncan Robinson had 12 points, and Goran Dragic added 19 points in 21 minutes off the bench.
The Spurs (18-23) snapped their two-game losing streak with a huge win over the Heat (29-13), arguably one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season, and they avenged the defeat they suffered against the Florida-based franchise earlier this week. This time, Miami got off to a stronger start since they led 31-28 following the first quarter, but San Antonio responded with a 32-23 second-quarter score that saw them grab the lead for good. Miami won 30-26 in the third quarter and made things closer, but the Spurs stopped any potential rally with a 21-18 fourth quarter that sealed the deal for them. With the win, the Spurs moved to 12-10 at home while the Heat fell to 11-12 on the road.
LaMarcus Aldridge led the way for the Spurs with 21 points, four rebounds and three assists, while DeMar DeRozan chipped in with 20 points, nine boards and nine assists. Patty Mills emerged as a reliable scoring threat off the bench since he ended with 18 points, five boards and three assists. Marco Belinelli had 12 points as substitute, and Derrick White contributed 11 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Bam Adebayo led the way for the Heat since he ended with 21 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Jimmy Butler had 16 points, six assists and five rebounds. Kendrick Nunn chipped in with 18 points while also adding four assists and two steals. Duncan Robinson had 12 points, and Goran Dragic added 19 points in 21 minutes off the bench.
Pacers Topples Nuggets, 115-107
The Indiana Pacers defeated the Denver Nuggets, 115-107, at Pepsi Center on Sunday night.
The Pacers (28-15) were facing a very short-handed Nuggets (29-13) squad that was without three starters, but they still fell behind by a 21-15 score through the first 12 minutes. Denver still owned the six-point advantage at the half, and they entered the final period with a seven-point edge. However, Indiana would finally make its move late, racking up 41 points in the fourth quarter while limiting their hosts to 26. The Pacers finished the game with a 50.0 percent success rate from the floor, including 44.8 percent from three-point range.
Doug McDermott led the Pacers with 24 points, adding two rebounds and two assists. Domantas Sabonis generated a 22-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist triple-double across 41 minutes. T.J. Warren and Malcolm Brogdon posted matching 22-point, three-rebound tallies, with Brogdon also dishing out eight assists. Justin Holiday posted 14 points and four rebounds.
Nikola Jokic paced the Nuggets with a 30-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included four assists and three steals. Will Barton and Jerami Grant contributed 16 points apiece while pulling down seven and five rebounds, respectively. Mason Plumlee turned in 13 points, four assists and two boards. Michael Porter, Jr. finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and two steals.
The Pacers next pay a visit to the Utah Jazz on Monday night, while the Nuggets travel to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night as well.
The Pacers (28-15) were facing a very short-handed Nuggets (29-13) squad that was without three starters, but they still fell behind by a 21-15 score through the first 12 minutes. Denver still owned the six-point advantage at the half, and they entered the final period with a seven-point edge. However, Indiana would finally make its move late, racking up 41 points in the fourth quarter while limiting their hosts to 26. The Pacers finished the game with a 50.0 percent success rate from the floor, including 44.8 percent from three-point range.
Doug McDermott led the Pacers with 24 points, adding two rebounds and two assists. Domantas Sabonis generated a 22-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist triple-double across 41 minutes. T.J. Warren and Malcolm Brogdon posted matching 22-point, three-rebound tallies, with Brogdon also dishing out eight assists. Justin Holiday posted 14 points and four rebounds.
Nikola Jokic paced the Nuggets with a 30-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included four assists and three steals. Will Barton and Jerami Grant contributed 16 points apiece while pulling down seven and five rebounds, respectively. Mason Plumlee turned in 13 points, four assists and two boards. Michael Porter, Jr. finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and two steals.
The Pacers next pay a visit to the Utah Jazz on Monday night, while the Nuggets travel to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night as well.