The San Antonio Spurs were hot when they took their talents to South Beach on Tuesday night. In game three of the NBA Finals, the Spurs torched the Miami Heat in the first half, connecting on 25 of their 33 field goal attempts. This blistering shooting (75.8 field goal percentage) is the best shooting half in NBA Finals history. San Antonio went on to win the game 111-92.
The Spurs made 13 of their 15 shots from the floor in the first quarter and led 41-25 after the first 12 minutes of play. They continued their offensive onslaught in the second quarter and led 71-50 at halftime.
“There were no magic plays,” Spurs’ shooting guard Manu Ginobili said in his postgame press conference on NBA.com. “We just moved the ball and every shot went in. The good thing is that at the same time, while that was happening on offense, we were pretty good defensively too. It was a great team effort. It was fun to play like that.”
Miami came storming back in the third quarter. The Heat reeled off a 10-0 run and pulled within seven (81-74) with just under two minutes left in the period.
San Antonio shooting guard Marco Beelinelli knocked down a 3-pointer to end the run and silence the crowd. The Spurs led by double digits the entire fourth quarter.
San Antonio small forward Kawhi Leonard recorded a career-high 29 points on 10-of-13 shooting. He had 16 in the first half.
“[Coach Gregg Popovich] just wanted me to play the game, go out there and be aggressive, don’t think so much and go out there and leave it all on the floor,” Leonard said in his postgame press conference.
Guards Tony Parker and Danny Green each posted 15 points. Green also amassed five steals. Power forward Tim Duncan compiled 14 points and six rebounds.
For the Heat, small forward LeBron James and shooting guard Dwayne Wade scored 22 points apiece. James also dished out seven assists. Shooting guard Ray Allen added 11 points, reports ESPN.
Miami will look to even the series at two on Thursday night before the action shifts back to San Antonio.