The Miami Heat dealt San Antonio their biggest NBA regular--season defeat since 2005 on Monday, pounding the Spurs 110-80 to avenge a blow-out loss to the Texas team earlier this month.
Chris Bosh scored 30 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, Dwyane Wade scored 29 and LeBron James chipped in 21 points with eight assists and six rebounds for the Heat.
It was the Heat’s third straight win and saw them move within two games of Eastern Conference co-leaders Boston and Chicago.
Photo: Reuters
Miami dropped a 125-95 decision in San Antonio on March 4, part of a five-game slide that sparked a frenzy of speculation about the star-studded team and whether it was truly championship material.
That kind of speculation is waning as the Heat posted wins over the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies and now the NBA-leading Spurs.
“Sometimes when you suffer the results that we were and you have this extreme noise from outside, that can be a distraction only if you let it,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Photo: Reuters
“But in terms of the guys’ confidence, it never really wavered. This is a very confident group, but the consistency that we’ve had the last three games is something we can build on,” Spoelstra said.
Tony Parker scored 18 points and Tim Duncan added 14 for San Antonio, who had won 15 of their last 18 against Miami.
It was the Spurs’ biggest -regular-season loss since April 7, 2005, a 104-68 defeat in Dallas.
Photo: Reuters
Their worst prior loss this season was a 96-72 defeat at New Orleans.
The Heat excelled in every aspect, out-rebounding San Antonio 47-33 and shooting 54 percent to the Spurs’ 38.
“We made a lot of shots in San Antonio and they made a lot of shots here,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
“What goes around comes around,” he said.
When the teams met less than two weeks ago, the Spurs were in charge before the end of the first quarter.
On Monday, it was Miami’s turn. The Heat led 49-39 at halftime and the Spurs couldn’t get the deficit within double digits.
LAKERS 97, MAGIC 84
In Los Angeles, Pau Gasol scored 23 points and Kobe Bryant added 16 while playing on a sprained left ankle as the Los Angeles Lakers scored their 10th win in 11 games over Orlando.
Andrew Bynum had 10 points, a career high-tying 18 rebounds and four blocks as the two-time defending NBA champions opened a seven-game homestand with another impressive post-All-Star effort.
The Lakers (48-20) also drew virtually even with the Dallas Mavericks (47-19) for second place in the Western Conference standings.
Dwight Howard had 22 points, 15 rebounds and nine turnovers — four more than the entire Lakers squad — for the Magic.
KINGS 129, WARRIORS 119
In Sacramento, California, Marcus Thornton scored 42 points and Samuel Dalembert had 27 in what might have been the final meeting ever in Sacramento against Golden State.
DeMarcus Cousins added 15 as the Kings had their second-highest scoring game of the season and shot 57 percent to win for just the second time in their past nine home games.
Al Thornton scored 23 points and Stephen Curry added 19 to lead the Warriors.
The Kings are contemplating a move to Anaheim after the season.
In other NBA play, it was:
‧ Rockets 95, Suns 93
‧ Nets 88, Celtics 79
‧ Thunder 116, Wizards 89
‧ Nuggets 114, Hornets 103
‧ Grizzlies 105, Clippers 82
‧ Jazz 112, Sixers 107, OT
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