After his crazy match the day before against the Wizards, the Spurs staff had decided to rest their three best players: Dejounte Murray, Jakob Poetl and Keldon Johnson. But that hasn’t stopped Spurs from pulling off a huge first act. Driven by a real desire to pass the ball, San Antonio gives a basketball lesson to Floridians. Always late, Jimmy Butler and his gang collect 40 points in the first act (40-28).
Quite unhappy with his men, Erik Spoelstra calls for a reaction… and it doesn’t take long. Under the eyes of Floyd Mayweather, Antonio Brown and Alex Rodriguez, the Heat show something else on defense. Above all, the 2020 finalists are starting to respect their opponents. Bam Adebayo leads by example and Tyler Herro shines off the bench. The Heat inflict a 40-18 on their opponent straddling the two quarters. At the break, Miami is in front (61-58).
Carried by the trio Adebayo / Butler / Herro, Miami responds in quick succession to the assaults of Texans without complex. It’s nice to see this young, diminished team standing up to the best in the Eastern Conference. Tre Jones distributes the caviars while Vassell or Bates-Diop take their responsibilities in attack.
With 12 minutes to go, the two teams are neck and neck. But Bam Adebayo will take the game in hand. The handyman of the Heat scores 13 points in the first 5 minutes of the quarter and seems to seal the fate of the meeting (123-110).
But, it is bad to know this young Spurs team. The day before already, they had shown the courage to win after two extensions away. After Lowry’s huge shot and then the basket in Adebayo’s racket, Bates-Diop brings Spurs back to possession with 10 seconds remaining. But the Heat stayed the course and won 133-129. A success that allows them to be alone at the top of the Eastern Conference since Chicago lost.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
Never underestimate the heart of Spurs… Even deprived of its best elements, the Spurs delivered an incredible match. After leading by 16 points very quickly, San Antonio has, by sequence, splashed the meeting. Facing the best team in the East, Greg Popovich’s men showed talent, heart and courage. In the last act, they were almost 20 points behind, but they found the virtues to come back to the score. The future is assured on the San Antonio side.
Miami as a leader. Tonight, the Heat failed to live up to their defensive standards. Above all, Erik Spoelstra’s men have at times shown a little nonchalance. But as soon as the machine starts, they are able to stop their opponents for several sequences. Above all, they always manage to find the right player at the right time. With a master to play like Lowry, a free electron like Tyler Herro and two “World Class Players” like Adebayo and Butler, the Heat can see it coming, and they are alone at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Gregg Popovich will wait. The Spurs coach needs a small victory to equal Don Nelson’s legendary record. By leaving his three best players to rest, he suspected that it would not be for tonight. Failing to have equaled the record, he can be proud of the work he does with this team.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Bam Adebayo. It is the heart of this team, capable of leading the way in defense, but also to weigh in attack. It’s very simple, no player opposite could stop him tonight. He is too powerful, too fast, simply too strong for his counterparts. Found by Lowry or by Butler, he was the offensive leader. Especially in the 4th act. He finished the game with 36 points. His record for the season.
✅ Tyler Herro. He is undoubtedly the best 6th man of the year, and he has carte blanche when he comes off the bench. Tonight, again, it caught fire. Like Bam, he was the detonator of the revolt. Like Bam, he shone in the last act. Sometimes a little soloist, he remains capable of catching fire at any time. It is a free electron, but can only shine in the Heat system.
✅ Keita Bates Diop. An almost perfect match with 22 points, 11 rebounds on… 9 out of 10 on shots, including 3 out of 3 from 3-pointers! He shook the Heat to the end in the “money time”.
⛔ Doug McDermott. With so many absent, we expected a lot of him. Alas, four small points for him, and an overall very discreet performance. Perhaps the fatigue of the day before with the two extensions.
THE FOLLOWING
Heat (40-21) : at home, the shock Monday evening against the Bulls
Spurs (24-37) : new complicated trip, Monday in Memphis
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