2013 NBA Finals Game #3
#1 Miami Heat at #2 San Antonio Spurs
Best of Seven Series tied 1-1
Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 9:05 pm Eastern, TV: ABC
AT&T Center – San Antonio, Texas
Opening Line: San Antonio -2 1/2
Current Line: San Antonio -2
Opening Total: 188
Current Total: 187 1/2
Opening Money Line: Spurs -140 / Heat +120
Current Money Line: Spurs -135 / Heat +115
Since the NBA Finals switched to a 2-3-2 format when the teams split the first two games the winner of game 3 has gone on to win the series 12 of 13 times. After losing game one 92-88, the Miami Heat would make sure that stat would come into play as they beat the San Antonio Spurs 103-84 Sunday night in game two. Now the series switches to San Antonio for the next three games, starting with game 3 Tuesday night.
In game two, the teams stayed close. They were tied at 22 at the end of the first and Miami would take a 50-45 lead at halftime. LeBron James struggled on offense missing 10 of his first 13 shots. His teammates bailed him out though and kept the Heat in the game.
San Antonio would take a 62-61 lead late in the third. However, the Heat would go on an incredible 33-5 run over the end of the third and beginning of the fourth to put the game away. Spurs’ coach Gregg Popovich pulled his starters midway through the fourth, and the Heat would take the 19 point victory to even up the series.
The Heat shot 49.4% from the field including 10 for 19 from 3 point range. San Antonio shot 41% from the field and made 10 of 20 3 pointers. The Spurs had 17 turnovers in game two after making only 4 in game one. Miami had only six turnovers Sunday night. The Spurs had 44 rebounds, and the Heat had 36.
Heat guard Mario Chalmers led all scorers with 19 points, and also had 4 rebounds and 2 assists. He also played Tony Parker on defense for most of the game and kept Parker in check. Parker would finish with 13 points on 5 for 14 shooting along with 5 assists and 3 rebounds. James would finish with 17 points on 7 for 17 shooting, and also added 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. In the fourth quarter, LeBron made a clean block on Spurs’ center Tiago Splitter at the rim as Splitter was attempting a dunk. Ray Allen made 3 three pointers and scored 13 points. Chris Bosh had 12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and a block. Dwyane Wade scored 10 points, along with 6 assists. However, he didn’t score in the second half after aggravating the bruised bone in his knee that has been hampering him throughout the playoffs. Wade returned to the locker room briefly in the first to have his kneecap adjusted. He is listed as probable for game 3.
Parker would finish with 13 points on 5 for 14 shooting along with 5 assists and 3 rebounds. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli both struggled as well. Duncan had 9 points on 3/13 shooting and 11 rebounds. Ginobli scored 5 points on 2/6 shooting. Guard Danny Green scored 17 points making all 5 of the 3 pointers he attempted. Gary Neal scored 10 points. Kahwi Leonard scored 9 points and had 14 rebounds.
Miami is coached by Eric Spoelstra. The Heat are 55-44 ATS this season and the total is 48-48-2. Miami is outscoring teams 97-88 in the playoffs. Miami is shooting 47.2% from the field and 35.6% from 3 point range. Miami makes 76.4% of their free throws. The Heat average 37.4 rebounds per game and give up 39.6 Miami opponents are shooting 42.9% from the field and 32.5% from 3 point range. The Heat average 20.3 assists, 8.1 steals, 5.6 blocks, and 13.5 turnovers per game. Miami forces 16.6 turnovers per game.
In the playoffs, forward LeBron James is averaging 26.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He won his fourth MVP award. Guard Dwyane Wade is averaging a playoff career low 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He is battling a bruised knee that won’t heal until the offseason. Forward/center Chris Bosh averages 12.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game. He sprained his ankle in the Indiana series but struggled badly with Indiana’s big men David West and Roy Hibbert. Guard Ray Allen averages 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. Point guard Mario Chalmers averages 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1 steal per game. The breakout star of the playoffs for Miami has been Norris Cole. The point guard is averaging 7.1 points a game. Forward Shane Battier didn’t play much in the Indiana series because the heat had to play bigger line-ups but he could be a key piece against the Spurs with his defense and timely shooting. Chris anderson is averaging 7.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. Udonis Haslem averages 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds. Mike Miller and Rashard Lewis could also see some time in the rotation.
San Antonio is coached by Gregg Popovich. The Spurs are 50-46-2 ATS and the total is 43-53-2 this season. San Antonio is outscoring teams 102-92 in the playoffs. The Spurs are shooting 46.9% from the field and 36.2% from 3 point range. The Spurs make 76.1% from the free throw line. San Antonio averages 42.9 rebounds and give up 45.6 per game. Spurs’ opponents are shooting 42% from the field and 33.6% from 3 point range.The Spurs average 23.6 assists, 8.3 steals, 5.4 blocks, and 12 turnovers. San Antonio forces 14.2 turnovers per game.
In the playoffs, Tony Parker is averaging 23 points, 7.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. He is probable with an Achilles’ injury. It is just bruised. Duncan is averaging 17.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Forward Kawhi Leonard is averaging 13 points, and 8 rebounds. Manu Ginobli is averaging 11.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. Guard Danny Green is averaging 9.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Gary Neal, Boris Diaw, Tiago Splitter, Matt Bonner, and Cory Joseph make up the rest of the rotation.
Miami is 5-1 ATS in NBA Finals games, 4-1 against Western Conference teams, 20-6 in road games, 6-2 against teams with winning home records, 0-6 after a straight up win, 0-4 after a cover, and a win by 10 points or more. The under is 22-5 in this series recently, including 10-2 in San Antonio.
San Antonio is 4-1 ATS after failing to cover, 6-2 against teams with winning records, and overall, 5-2 in NBA Finals games, 15-6-1 after a straight up loss, 39-17-1 against Southeast teams, 34-15-2 against Eastern Conference teams, 2-5 after allowing 100 points or more, 7-19 after the opponent scores 100 points or more, and 1-4 in Tuesday games.
San Antonio will rebound from the blowout loss in game 2. Duncan, Ginobli, and Parker all struggled, and that probably won’t happen again. Wade’s knee is an issue fro Miami, but LeBron got enough help from Chalmers, Ray Allen, and Mike Miller. Spoelstra put Allen and Miller on the floor at the same time and San Antonio struggled to stop them from shooting. I think Miami wins a tough game on the road to take control of the series.
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