The Miami Heat continue their preseason schedule as they visited the AT&T Center to face the San Antonio Spurs. Heading into the game, the Heat would have to continue being impressive throughout the preseason, especially against a new look Spurs team. The Heat were without Luke Babbitt, Chris Bosh, Josh Richardson and Josh McRoberts due to injury while the Spurs were without LaMarcus Aldridge, who was inducted into the Texas University Hall of Fame. This is also the first offseason for the Spurs since the retirement of Tim Duncan.
In the first quarter, Derrick Williams got Miami on the board, while Pau Gasol would do same thing for San Antonio. Danny Green would give the Spurs an early lead, only for Hassan Whiteside to tie the game after catching a lob from Dion Waiters. The Heat would also get an early jump on the defensive end thanks to Justise Winslow, who would make a pair of layups to get Miami ahead. The Spurs would answer back with scoring from Gasol and Kawhi Leonard, but Miami’s Tyler Johnson and Goran Dragic would increase the Heat’s lead as they led 16 to 12. San Antonio were quickly looking to catch up with Miami, but the Heat continued to hold on to their lead as Dragic, Tyler Johnson, and James Johnson contributed to Miami’s lead even more. Miami continued to display more of their defense as Tyler Johnson blocked a shot from the Spurs, leading to a free throw plus a three-pointer from Wayne Ellington. Udonis Haslem would also enter the game for Miami, making a two-pointer as Miami led 30 to 24 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, James Johnson and Briante Weber would pick up the offense and defense respectively for Miami as Johnson would get off six points and Weber with a steal, leading to a Spurs timeout as Miami led 36 to 28. After the timeout, Leonard would nail a three-pointer, followed by a basket from Green to get San Antonio back in the game. The Heat would not be deterred by this as James Johnson, Justise Winslow, Tyler Johnson, and Whiteside continued Miami’s lead. After another San Antonio timeout, the Spurs started to turn the tide in their favor as Tony Parker and Leonard made two free throws each, followed by a three-pointer from Spurs hopeful David Bertans. By halftime, Miami led 55 to 48.
Into the third quarter, Whiteside would make a layup to keep Miami’s lead going, while Gasol scored a basket for the Spurs. Parker would also score for the Spurs, but Winslow, Dragic, and Derrick Williams would continue to keep Miami’s lead going. With the Heat leading 72 to 58, they went on a 16 to 6 run, led by Whiteside and Williams. Kyle Anderson and Spurs newcomer Dewayne Dedmon would enter the game for San Antonio and tried to cut into the Heat’s lead with a few baskets of their own. Patty Mills would also enter the game for San Antonio, scoring a layup and a three-pointer, only for Tyler Johnson to answer back with a three-pointer of his own to beat the buzzer and end the third quarter with an 88 to 68 lead.
As the fourth quarter commenced, Dedmon, Mills, and Manu Ginobili looked to start a rally for the Spurs, but Haslem, Ellington, and James Johnson would pick up the scoring load for Miami. With the Heat ahead 97 to 76, San Antonio would go on an 8 to 3 run, led by Kyle Anderson. Keith Benson would enter the game for Miami and score a basket, while another Spurs hopeful named Nico Laprovittola (pronounced La-pro-vi-tola) would make a three-point shot. With Miami ahead 106-91, the Spurs would go on a little 9-0 run, but it would be too late as the Heat would hold on to a 108 to 100 victory.
The Miami Heat continue to improve during the preseason and the players are still looking to make an impression. Wayne Ellington, James Johnson, and Derrick Williams held their own for the Heat, but it was Tyler Johnson, who was the difference maker in last night’s game as he provided the spark off the bench and gave the Heat much needed energy to continue playing against San Antonio. Another factor for the Heat would have to be their defense. Justise Winslow and Briante Weber each had a steal, while Tyler Johnson and Hassan Whiteside would both get a block, the latter getting defensive rebounds, too. Miami’s young core and group of veterans will have to keep improving and working as a unit throughout the preseason, in hopes of turning heads and staving off doubters in the regular season.
For the Spurs, Kawhi Leonard and Dewayne Dedmon had 11 points each, while Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, and Jonathon Simmons scored 10 points each.
For the Heat, Tyler Johnson led the way with 17 points, Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters, and James Johnson scored 15 points each, Hassan Whiteside had 12 points, and Derrick Williams made 10 points.
The next game for the Heat is when they head to Louisville, Kentucky to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in a preseason exhibition. That game starts tonight at 7:30pm and can be only heard on 790 AM.
The Heat Check Magazine 