Can the Miami Heat come back to level the NBA Finals series or will the San Antonio Spurs go for the throat?
Join us at 10:00am AEST for all the action and drama of Game 2.
San Antonio produced a huge fourth quarter surge in game one, to go along with some ridiculous shooting numbers to win heading to Miami for this contest. Now they’re away, they will have to produce something special.
The Heat are going to need a lot more from their role guys. In Game 1, the combination of Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, Chris Andersen and Shane Battier gave Miami seven points in 78 minutes played. It wasn’t enough from those guys considering the sweltering heat inside the AT&T Centre that day, that left LeBron James all but spent.
The Spurs weren’t exactly excellent themselves, committing 22 turnovers in total. They also had a number of defensive breakdowns where they lost track of Ray Allen, but he failed to make them pay, aside from that drive the basket capped off by a serious dunk.
The good news for the Spurs is that point guard and offensive orchestrator Tony Parker got better as the game went on, and felt his ankle improved.
The Heat need more from their role players off the bench, and need to get to the free throw line more than 11 times if they are to tie things up here.
The Spurs will feel like they dodged a bullet in Game 1 – 22 turnovers, trailing by as many as seven points in the fourth quarter, and no LeBron James down the stretch. You wouldn’t think they would get that lucky again in this entire series.
Prediction
Spurs by 11.
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Thats a final from San Antonio. Miami smarter down the stretch at both ends, Spurs will be furious with some of those breakdowns in crunch time from both Parker and Duncan. Kawhi Leonard needs to improve dramatically if SA is any chance in this series now. Miami gets the split and heads home for games 3 and 4. Heat 98-96 victors.
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Bosh with a huge corner 3 and the assist for Wade. Ballgame, Heat up 98-93, 9.4 secs left in the 4th. Miami take home court advantage
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
will the 4 missed FT's come back to haunt the spurs?
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Parker with a huge 3, tremendous game, 16 lead changes, 12 ties. Spurs up 93-92, 2:25 left in the 4th. Buckle up.
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Leonard with his 5th. Pop going to take him out
Ryan
Guest
Parkers ability to survive that elbow; which was clearly the equivalent of copping 25 straight "peoples elbow" from the Rock is an outstanding effort. If he plays another minutes = Hero.
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Spurs miss 4 straight FT's, LeBron then sticks a 3 right in Leonard's face. Heat up 88-87, 5:30 left in the 4th
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Mario Chalmers with the elbow to Parkers ribs, flagrant 1 called. Spurs 87-85 as Parker misses both FT's, 6:43 left in the 4th
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Rashard Lewis channeling 2009 as he hits another 3. Miami up 83-80 with 8:51 left in the 4th.
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
LeBron got a good rest to end the 3rd, could be key down the stretch. As will Kawhi sitting on 4 fouls. Don't think Pop can go with Marco guarding Wade any longer, Green should be given that assignment.
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Mills with 2 from downtown in the 3rd, both teams playing great at the offensive end that quarter. Spurs 78-77 at the end of 3.
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Well so much for LeBron living in the paint, he has gone to the jumper, 8 straight for him. 10/15 overall. Miami up 64-62, Timeout Spurs, 4:50 left in the 3rd
Ryan
Guest
Just feel the Spurs have got this. Miami hanging tough, but cant seem to get in front, constantly just pegging Spurs back to level.
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Kawhi 3 as the shot clock expired, at the end of a good defensively possession by Miami. Spurs up 60-56, 6:26 to go in the 3rd.
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
LeBron technical for arguing, Spurs lead 52-51 8:54 left in the 3rd
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Dwyane Wade, getting ridiculous love from the officials since 2006. Spurs 50-47 9:50 left in the 3rd
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
LeBron has not scored, nor has looked to outside of the paint thus far, let's see if that continues 2nd half.
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Poor 2nd quarter from SA, totally out of sync offensively and giving up a lot in the paint. All tied at 43 at the half.
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Flop count - Wade 1, Manu 0. Duncan with a gorgeous 2 hand outlet to Parker for the layup, Spurs up 41- 36, 2:47 left in the 1st Half.
Steve Quinn
Roar Rookie
Duncan picks up a technical, Spurs lead 33-32, 5:28 left in the 2nd.