SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Miami Heat were short-handed, playing the second night of a back-to-back and playing against the most intriguing prospect in decades in San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wimpanyama.
Miami had every reason to lose, but they had more resolve to win.
Duncan Robinson scored 26 points, and Bam Adebayo added 24 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Miami Heat to beat the San Antonio Spurs 118-113 on Sunday evening, achieving their fifth consecutive victory.
“Overcoming a 19-point deficit on the second night of the match shows our determination, dedication and perseverance,” Adebayo said. “It shows our will to win.”
Robinson and Adebayo combined for 20 points in the fourth quarter as Miami won its fourth straight in San Antonio. Jimmy Butler added 19 points as the Heat overcame a 19-point deficit.
Keldon Johnson scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Victor Wembanyama added 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, as the Spurs lost for the fifth time in a row.
Josh Richardson scored 12 points, including six in the final two minutes, in his return to San Antonio after being traded to Miami in February.
The Heat went 17-0, 18-5 and 12-0 to rally from a double-digit deficit against the Spurs.
“It was our first in-person game of the year,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Where you have to show something to be able to overcome that kind of deficit. To do it on the road, I think it’s a good win and a good step. Hopefully we can build on that.”
With Tyler Herro out of the game due to a sprained right ankle, the Heat elected to rest Kyle Lowry on the second night of the showdown.
Miami got off to a slow start after its 117-109 win in Atlanta on Saturday.
The Heat held 15 points in the first quarter, the lowest level for a Tottenham competitor in that period.
Wembanyama’s one-handed strike off a loose ball from McDermott gave the Spurs a 27-13 lead in the final minute of the first quarter.
Wimbanyama finished 8-for-12 from the field, including 2-for-9 on 3-pointers, and dished out seven assists.
“People have a lot of expectations on this kid,” Adebayo said. “He’s a rookie. I was talking to (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich), and I was just saying he doesn’t know his routine right now. So, for everyone to put those expectations on him, he’s living up to those expectations. He’s trying to get the job done. He’s starting to figure out “It’s up.”
After trailing by 19 points at the beginning of the second quarter, the Heat rallied to tie the game 47-47. San Antonio would regain a double-digit lead in the third quarter only for Miami to take its first lead since the game’s opening basket on a pair of free throws by Kevin Love to make it 75-74.
The Heat did not commit a turnover in the fourth quarter while San Antonio had six in the period.
“It adds up,” Popovich said. “(But) they are getting smarter every game.”
the next
Miami: At Charlotte on Tuesday.
Spurs: At Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
