NBA: Spurs, once reeling, find rhythm with late win over Heat
FILE – Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 21, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Andy Lyons/Getty Images/AFP
Devin Vassell made two straight mid-range jumpers — including the go-ahead shot with 1:13 left in the fourth quarter — leading the lowly San Antonio Spurs to a 115-111 win over the host Miami Heat on Saturday night.
With the Spurs leading 113-111, the Heat went for the potential win on their final possession and missed two straight 3-pointers by Tyler Herro and by Caleb Martin.
Miami was led by Jimmy Butler, who scored a game-high 30 points on 11-for-16 shooting. Herro added 23 points on 8-for-16 shooting, including 5-for-8 on 3-pointers.
The Spurs, who entered the game tied with Houston for the worst record in the Western Conference, won their second straight game. The Spurs had lost 11 straight games before this mini streak.
Dev. Clutch. 👌 pic.twitter.com/nNLPxPKGBt
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 11, 2022
San Antonio got 21 points from Keldon Johnson, 19 points from Romeo Langford and 18 from Vassell, who had missed San Antonio’s previous contest due to a knee injury.
There were three lead changes and two tie scores early in the first quarter before Miami settled in with a 29-25 lead.
In the second quarter, San Antonio went on a 10-0 run to take a 41-37 lead with 7:32 left. The Spurs shot 66.7 percent in the second quarter, and they took a 59-57 lead into halftime.
Butler led all scorers with 17 first-half points, including 12 in the second quarter.
The difference in the first half was San Antonio attacking the rim and building a 36-28 edge in paint points. Those drives allowed the Spurs to shoot 58.1 percent from the floor as compared to 51.4 percent for Miami.
Miami led for most of the third quarter, but ex-Heat wing Josh Richardson made a 3-pointer with 36 seconds left to give the Spurs an 86-84 advantage heading into the fourth. Herro led all third-quarter scorers with 12 points as he made 4-for-5 from deep.
The game was tight throughout the fourth quarter until Vassell made his pair of jumpers in the final two minutes.
For the game, San Antonio shot 53.8 percent from the floor, and the Spurs outrebounded the Heat, 46-32.
Miami shot 48.1 percent from the floor.
