Embarrassing Loss for Miami Heat

After blowing a game Thursday night against the Orlando Magic, allowing the Magic to come back from a 24 point deficit and beat them, the Heat had a horrible defensive game last night losing to the San Antonio Spurs.  After watching the 1st quarter alone you could tell that it would be a long game for the Heat, as the Spurs held them to only 11 points and taking a 24 point lead at the end of the quarter.  The Spurs were 8 of 10 from the 3 point range in the 1st quarter alone and the Heat were only 22% in shooting field goals.  As the game went on the Spurs continued to break down the Heat's defense.  In the 2nd quarter the Heat eventually went on a 9-0 run and cut the Spurs lead to 12 points by halftime.  The Spurs were held to 26 points in the 2nd after scoring 36 in the 1st alone and the Heat scored 38 points in the 2nd quarter leaving the score 62-50 at halftime.  After halftime the Heat continued to fight back but was only able to cut the lead to within 9 and eventually the Spurs took the game back going back up by 24 points in the 3rd quarter.  The Heat went on another 9-0 run in the 3rd that was ended by free throws by Tony Parker, who returned last night after missing two games due to a strained calf muscle.  With less than 3 minutes left in the quarter Dampier was ejected from the game after shoving Parker in the back landing him a flagrant foul.  At the end of the 3rd quarter the Spurs had seven players in double digits including all of the starting line up.  Its an understatement to say that the Spurs had their way with the Heat defeating them by 30 points, 125-95, the largest lost the Heat have suffered this season.  After last night's game, the Heat's schedule doesn't get any easier for them as they take on the Bulls, Trailblazers, Lakers, Grizzlies, and the Spurs again in the next 5 games.    The Heat are now 1-8 against the top 5 teams in the league and have now dropped to 3rd place behind the Celtics and the Bulls in the Eastern Conference.

(AP Photo/ Bahram Mark Sobhani)

Also Friday in the NBA:

• After an impressive 24 point comeback against the Heat Thursday night, the Magic were unable to achieve another comeback last night against the Bulls.  Chicago defeated the Magic 89-81 and Dwight Howard received a 1 game suspension after getting his 16th technical foul of the season.  
• The Knicks are now 0-3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers after they have lost twice to the Cavs in the past week.  The Knicks were unable to hold on last night, losing to the Cavs 119-115.
• Kevin Durant returned last night, after suffering from an ankle injury, against the Atlanta Hawks.  Durant had 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists in the 111-104 victory over the Hawks.