Spurs use record half to sink Heat, take 2-1 lead in NBA Finals
The San Antonio Spurs used a record-setting first half to lift themselves to a 111-92 win over the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday, earning a 2-1 series lead.
The Spurs shot a record 75.8 percent from the field in the first half, breaking a Finals record set by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009 Finals against the Orlando Magic. The Spurs took a 71-50 lead into the break and never led by fewer than seven points from there on out.
The @Spurs just had the best shooting half in #NBAFinals history (75.8%). Previous record was 75% (ORL v. LAL, 2009) pic.twitter.com/68i1aSQJEQ
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) June 11, 2014
Star Performer
Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard's defense on LeBron James has been key to the team's success against the Heat, but getting an offensive performance like the one Leonard gave them on Tuesday is just gravy.
Leonard scored a career-high 29 points, and did most of his work in the first half, starting the game going 6-of-6 from the field, including 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc. He finished the game 10-of-13 from the field and filled out his stat line with four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Kawhi Leonard had the highest-scoring game of his NBA career tonight for @spurs in Game 3 pic.twitter.com/w5Mmlr2n3l
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 11, 2014
When Leonard wanted to score, there was little the Heat could do to stop him.
Turning Point
While the Spurs looked poised to run away with the game in the early going, the Heat cut the deficit to seven points with a 10-0 run in the third quarter, but a three-pointer from Marco Belinelli with 1:37 remaining in the quarter ended the run and really took the air out of the building.
Highlight Reel
LeBron finds his hot spot on the court.
Manu Ginobili rattles home a three-pointer to end the first quarter
Tim Duncan has the touch pass down.
[Courtesy: CJ Fogler]
Quote of the Night
Even Gregg Popovich was impressed with the Spurs' first half shooting.
Popovich: "I don't think we'll shoot 76 percent in a half ever again."
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) June 11, 2014
Series at a Glance
Game 1: SA 110, MIA 95 (Spurs lead series 1-0)
Game 2: MIA 98, SA 96 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: SA 111, MIA 92 (Spurs lead series 2-1)
Game 4: @ MIA, Thursday, June 12, 9 p.m. ET
Game 5: @ SAS, Sunday, June 15, 8 p.m. ET
Game 6*: @ MIA, Tuesday, June 17, 9 p.m. ET
Game 7*: @ SAS, Friday, June 20, 9 p.m. ET