Once again, the Miami Heat would find themselves in need of
a win with their backs against the wall, this time they were facing elimination
against one of the most efficient teams, the San Antonio Spurs. Once again, the
Miami Heat would deliver, this time it may have been done in the most gut
wrenching way possible.
Down by ten at the start of the fourth quarter, the Heat had
twelve minutes to save their season and keep their championship hopes alive.
Lebron James and Co. would once again “flip the switch,” exploding on offense
for 30 points. As the midway point of the quarter approached, there was no way
Miami could lose with the intensity they were playing with.
Without his infamous sweatband, Lebron would take over and
finally live up to his title as the best basketball player on the planet. Guard
Mike Miller would drain a crucial three pointer without one of his shoes. Chris
Bosh would start coming up with big defensive plays and rebounds to help the
Heat win. The Miami Heat would actually play basketball and not a theatrical
performance.
This intensity seemed as if it would not be enough, as
inside a minute left in regulation, Miami was back down, 94-89. James would
miss an early attempt for trey but an assist from Mike Miller would give him
new life.
James would not make the same mistake twice.
Still down 94-92 and elimination seconds away, Miami would
begin fouling. Young Spurs big man Kawhi Leonard would be fouled and take two
foul shots. Leonard would only convert one of his foul shots, making the score
95-92. Miami was not done yet.
James would miss another three-point attempt, seemingly the
final blow for Miami, but a clutch rebound from Bosh kept hope. Bosh would toss
the ball into the corner to one of the best three point shooters of all time,
Ray Allen. Allen would prove his value from deep, netting the game tying
basket.
Tony Parker would get all the way to the basket, but missed
a fadeaway layup that could have ended the series, as the stage would be set
for overtime.
The overtime period would go just as regulation started out,
with both teams trading baskets, unable to put together the significant runs
that have defined this series. However, the Heat scored the final baskets, a
Lebron James layup to gain the lead and two Ray Allen free throws to make it a
three point game. As the clock expired, San Antonio was again able to get the
shot they wanted, but Chris Bosh would provide his second crucial block of the
period, stopping Danny Green’s game tying three pointer.
Despite another average start, Lebron James would tally the
game high in points with 32. James would also have the game high in assists
with eleven. Tim Duncan would lead the Spurs with 30 points and seventeen
rebounds.
After a start to the game where he had been making poor shot
selections, Chris Bosh would put together another double-double The biggest
story with Bosh would be his critical rebounds and two overtime blocks that may
have saved Miami’s season.
Danny Green would score three points, hitting only one three
pointer for the Spurs after putting on a clinic from downtown in the series’
first five games. Tonight, it was the Heat’s performance from deep that made
headlines. In addition to Allen’s game tying shot, Shane Battier, Mike Miller,
and Mario Chalmers would all combine for ten made three pointers.
Chalmers would score 20 points on four shots from outside.
It was Chalmers’ 17 first half points that kept Miami in the game as the Big 3
could not get going early.
Making up for Green’s absence, another Spurs player would
make his name, as Kawhi Leonard would provide 22 points along with eleven
rebounds and three steals.
Dealing with his injured hamstring, Spurs point guard Tony
Parker sat out most defensive stands in the fourth quarter and overtime. Parker
would manage however to score nineteen points along with eight assists.
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