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Leonard scores 24 points, Spurs hold off Heat, 94-90

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SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs turned up the heat on Miami for their third win at home 94 to-90. They evened up their record at the AT&T Center at 3-3.

The Spurs picked up their eighth win of the season and their third in a row. 

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The Spurs took the two game season series although the matchups don't have the same intensity they did when both teams were playing for championships since the Heat is still trying to recover from losing their big three over the last two years. LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.

Kawhi Leonard led the way for the Spurs with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

San Antonio was actually down by four early in the game, but then Tony Parker took over in the first with seven points. He finished with 11 points and 6 assists.

San Antonio worked their lead to 18, outscored the Heat by nine in the second quarter and then finished the half up 15, 55-40.

LaMarcus Aldridge had a huge first half. He started the game 8 for 8. He finished  the half with one miss and 18 points. 

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich can always find something to talk to his team about. The Heat opened the second half with two quick buckets in the paint and had to call a time out.

The Heat also got very aggressive and the Spurs started turning it over.

"We lost focus in the third quarter,  we had 8 turnovers I thought their pressure was good and we didn't react to it very well," said Gregg Popovich, Spurs Head Coach.

That aggressive play combined with the Spurs turnovers and a big quarter from Dion Waiters helped the Heat cut into the lead.

Dion Waiters hit a three with 2:45 left in the game to cut it seven and then after another Spurs turnover Waiters drove to the hole and cut it to five, 86-81, with just over two minutes to play.

Waiters had 16 in the quarter and 23 for the game.

The Spurs were able to hold them off but Waiters made them very nervous.

He hit a three with 11 seconds left to cut it to four, 92-88.

Leonard hit a couple of free throws to make it 94-88 and the Spurs were able to hold on at the end for the win, despite 17 turnovers.

"Creates a lot of problems," said Parker," we can't set out defense."

The Spurs said before the game they thought it would be physical, it was.

"They played a little more physical and we just didn't find a good enough answer to try and keep the lead," said Parker, referring to that 18 point lead they had in the first half.

There were a number of examples of just how physical it got.

Danny Green took a knee to the groin in the first half and then was late coming out of the locker room in the third but didn't get back on the floor. He said he should be good to go on the road trip.

Parker took an elbow to the face and Pau Gasol got knocked into the basket stand after a layup and said he could feel it in his neck.

"My neck got hyperextended, a little sore right now, hopefully it will be OK," Gasol said

No foul was called on the play.

Dewayane Dedmon left the game with a left knee sprain after getting hit in the knee in the third quarter. He actually stayed in the game, made a block and a bucket before leaving.

Despite all the negative, the positive was, the Spurs picked up a tough fought win.

"For sure, but we were up,"said Leonard," think we lost in that second half, just got to the think about things like that if you want to be better."

The Spurs are back on the road for two games, in Sacramento Wednesday and L.A. to take on the Lakers on Friday.


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