The San Antonio Spurs routed the Heat 111-92 Tuesday night in Miami to seize a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven NBA Finals. It was the Heat's first home loss of this year's postseason.
The Spurs used their motion offense to near perfection in the first half leading by as many as 25 points despite the best efforts of Miami's LeBron James and took a massive 71-50 lead into intermission.
San Antonio survived a comeback that brought Miami within seven points at 81-74 late in the third quarter, but the visitors reasserted themselves to win going away for a comfortable win that ended the Heat's 8-0 perfection at home this postseason.
Kawhi Leonard, who averaged nine points a game in the first two contests, led the Spurs with a career-high 29. Tony Parker and Danny Green both pitched in with 15 points.
Four-time NBA most valuable player James scored 22 points to share Miami scoring honors with Dwyane Wade, although James was never able to take control of the game.
James scored 14 points in the first quarter with the next highest scoring Heat player Ray Allen getting three as the Spurs charged out to a 41-25 lead.
James scored only eight points the rest of the way.
"They came out in a different gear than we were playing at," said a frustrated Erik Spoelstra, coach of the two-time defending NBA champion Heat.
San Antonio put on an offensive clinic in the opening half combined with remarkable shooting accuracy.
The Spurs hit 25 of 33 shots for a 75.8 shooting percentage that was an NBA Finals record for a half.
San Antonio also applied high-energy pressure on the defensive end, taking advantage of some sloppy play by the Heat to create 20 turnovers, including seven by James.
Game 4 will be played Thursday night in Miami.
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