The Heat won game one of the 2014 NBA Finals. . . . . but we’re not talking about Miami.
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Thursday night saw the San Antonio Spurs hosting Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals, in their re-match against the Miami Heat. Prior to series, the Heat (and LeBron James in particular), were looking for any words of encouragement to continue the fire they used last series against Lance Stephenson and the Indiana Pacers. Tim Duncan was quoted after their Game 6 victory against OKC saying, “We’ll get it done this time.”
San Antonio would quickly downplay any war of words the media was trying to stir, but remained neutral on saying anything negative regarding their opponents. The Spurs were obviously up for the challenge and came out guns blazing for Game 1, led by Manu Ginobili making a trio of three-pointers. Tonight’s elephant in the room was the AT&T Center having zero air conditioning the entire game. The team revealed an electrical failure occurred for the power that runs the stadium’s entire air conditioning system, which made things heat up the entire night. Literally.
With Mario Chalmers in early foul trouble, Miami’s perimeter defense saw a huge hindrance that led to Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Marco Belinelli, and even Patty Mills providing efficient production throughout the game. LeBron James led all scores with 25 points, doing all he could during the first three quarters, but the humidity affected him visibly the most out of any player in the later stages of the game; and would leave the game with a left thigh cramp.
Dwyane Wade pulling his best Hakeem Olajuwon impersonation before things heated up.
Erik Spoelstra refused to allow LeBron back into the game, citing the fact that he was thinking about the entire series and not only one game. With LeBron carried to the bench, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green would cap off the game scoring three pointers to give San Antonio a 110-95 game one victory.
Game two is on Sunday, which Miami will have time to study game film and regroup after the Spurs’ impressive 60% shooting percentage in the opener.