Heat center Chris Andersen dunks in Sunday's Game 2 of the NBA Finals vs. the Spurs.(Photo Derick E. Hingle USA TODAY Sports)
MIAMI As LeBron James pounded his chest yelling with the crowd it seemed like a lot of frustrations were pouring out.
On a night that James didn't have much offensively for a majority of the game his block on driving Tiago Splitter exemplified the defensive effort that led to a 103 84 Miami Heat victory vs. the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday. And after the play James just had to let it loose.
Tony (Parker) hit him with a great pocket pass and Splitter had a runway to the rim and I was like 'Hey just make a play. You haven't done much offensively so just try to change the game some way defensively ' James said.
BOX SCORE Heat 103 Spurs 84
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Splitter said of the block At least I'm going to be in the news. I just tried to make a good play but he's a great player.
James wasn't himself offensively 17 points on 7 for 17 shooting. But he and the Heat played swarming defense forcing the Spurs into 16 turnovers and several bad shots and turned a close game into a rout with a 33 5 run from the 3 13 mark of the third quarter to the 7 13 mark of the fourth quarter.
A big plus for the Heat was that Chris Bosh had his best all around game (12 points 10 rebounds) since the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Chicago Bulls. Dwyane Wade added 10 points and Mike Miller and Chris Andersen each had nine points off the bench. Mario Chalmers scored 19 points and Ray Allen had 13 off the bench.
James started 2 for 12 and Miami trailed 62 61 before the run began. It seemed possible the Heat might head to San Antonio trailing 2 0 in the series. Now it's 1 1 and Game 3 is Tuesday in San Antonio (9 p.m. ET ABC).
LeBron couldn't get into a rhythm early on and other guys stepped up Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. He showed great poise and trust in not getting caught up in feeling like he had to make the play or score but rather either facilitate or let other guys make plays. And that's what they did.
Mario was able to make some plays. Ray and Mike both found open gaps for the shooting. Dwyane and CB were able to make plays in the first half and LeBron was fine with that.
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The Heat have not lost consecutive games since early January and for the fourth time since the formation of Miami's Big 3 the Heat won Game 2 of a series after losing Game 1. They have won each of the previous three series and Game 3 looms large. Since the 2 3 2 format began in 1985 the team who wins Game 3 in a 1 1 series has won the title 11 of 12 times. The home team's record in Game 3 is also a foreboding 3 9.
We have to play better Spurs guard Tony Parker said. Definitely have to play better. ... It's always easy to bounce back after a now and now it's our turn to see how we're going to respond.
Miami has responded well to losses all season and in the playoffs in particular.
To be able to bounce back from certain situations you have to have a toughness you have to have a collective character Spoelstra said prior to Game 2. We've also been through enough pain collectively that that can be motivating.
The Heat went through a painful 90 minute video review of their Game 1 mistakes on Friday. James called the sessions painful.
That's the good thing about this team we own it and we watch it and then we try not to make the same mistake the next time James said.
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Last SlideNext SlideThat run happened in a blur seven minutes 13 seconds and when the Heat step on the gas like that they are difficult to slow down. Miami made 12 of the 14 shots it took in that span.
Shane Battier explained the mindset of a team in the heart of blowout.
You don't know the numbers. You just know that we're doing what has made us good all year Battier said. The activity level was amazing. We were forcing turnovers. That's our game. We finally got to our game for the first time maybe in two series. It usually starts with us making threes. When we hit threes what usually happens is we trust the shooters more. There's more ball movement. Guys feel part of the offense and when you feel part of the offense you player harder on defense. It all works together.
The Heat made 10 of 19 three pointers and were 5 for 5 during the 33 5 run. The floor seemed slanted toward Miami's basket during that run. The Heat were flying downhill and the Spurs were struggling to climb uphill.
In the second half they just ran over us Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. We didn't move the ball at all. Their pressure really got us on our heels. And offensively they just ran they penetrated they kicked it. They didn't everything they wanted. It's very disappointing. We are in the NBA Finals. You don't want to play like this for sure.
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Chalmers scored 10 points in the first half and eight more during the run.
It just gave everybody that mental edge to go for the kill Chalmers said.
Spurs guard Tony Parker wasn't as dynamic as he was in Game 1 with just 13 points on 5 for 14 shooting the Heat held center Tim Duncan to just nine points on 3 for 13 shooting. Kawhi Leonard was just 4 for 12 and Ginobili was 2 for 6. The Spurs shot just 41% from the field.
In the first quarter James continued to play his game reading what the defense is giving and shooting or passing accordingly. But he had just four points two assists and one rebound 18 minutes into the game. Regardless of how James decides to play the Heat need more than that in this series.
Spurs guard Danny Green continued his hot three point shooting making his first five three point attempts and Gary Neal drained his first two threes.
The Spurs made 7 of 10 three pointers in the first half after going 7 for 23 in Game 1. San Antonio shot just 41% in the first two quarters but kept the score close with three pointers.
Just three times during the regular season did the Spurs shoot 60% or better on three pointers and they were at 64.3% after three quarters.
Miami's perimeter defense gave up some open threes and was late on closeouts and had some trouble controlling Parker whose speed created multiple opportunities for him and the Spurs. He even blew by James on one drive to the basket.
But the Heat limited Duncan and pulled into halftime with a 50 45 lead. Miami founds its offensive rhythm too despite James' point total.
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