The Miami Heat look like a different team from the one that was blown out in San Antonio only 10 days ago.
Chris Bosh has scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds and Dwyane Wade has added 15 points and five rebounds as the Heat have cruised to a 49-39 halftime lead over the Spurs.
The Heat, which lost by 30 points at the ATT Center in the earlier game this season, hit 52.6 percent in the first quarter and 47.2 percent in the half as they outhustled the Spurs.
Tim Duncan leads the Spurs with 11 points, who have struggled offensively, hitting only 39.1 percent from the field.
The Spurs’ perimeter game has been frigid in the first half and they have had trouble getting to the line. San Antonio missed its first five 3-pointers en route to a 1-for-10 effort behind the arc. And the Spurs didn’t get their first free throw attempts until 2:17 was left in the first half as Miami has outscored them from the line 14-2.
Duncan scored six quick points to boost the Spurs to a quick 14-9 lead for their largest in the half. But Miami ran off 11 straight points before the end of the quarter to claim a 22-19 lead after one quarter.
Miami pushed its lead to as high as 13 midway through the second quarter, making most of the points when James was on the bench.
The Spurs blistered Miami for a team-record 17 3-pointers in their 30-point victory in San Antonio 10 days ago. But it hasn’t been nearly that easy today.
In order to get back in the game, the Spurs will need a better effort from guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, who have combined for only nine points on 4-for-shooting.
And they must do a better job against Wade and Bosh, who have thrived as LeBron has struggled through a subpar first half with six points, two rebounds and one assist.
