Postgame grades: Late run not enough to lift Miami Heat over Spurs

Nov 14, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat small forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat small forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Physicality and sound second-half defense once again was not enough for the struggling Miami Heat as the veteran-led San Antonio Spurs held on for a 94-90 win at home.

Despite a season-high 17 turnovers committed and an anemic 26 percent rate from the field in the second half, the Spurs held on behind 24 points and 12 rebounds from Kawhi Leonard. LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points as San Antonio’s veteran starting lineup of Leonard, Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Danny Green and Tony Parker made its season debut tonight.

For Miami, Hassan Whiteside tallied 23 points and 17 rebounds (good for his eighth double-double in nine games,) and Dion Waiters came alive in the fourth, dropping 16 in the quarter and finishing the contest with 27 overall on 12-for-26 shooting. Despite all the attacks of the basket and shots taken, Waiters did not attempt one free throw, taking note of that during his post game session with the media:

”That’s the crazy part about, I’m not the type of guy that would question the referees on anything,” Waiters pointed out. ”But I look at how many lay up attempts I got tonight, like 15, and I haven’t gotten to the line one time.”

A sloppy third quarter aside, San Antonio executed when it needed to and now finds itself at 8-3, good for third in the ever-competitive Western Conference.

Miami now drops to an anemic 2-7, hovering down at the bottom of the pack with the likes of New Orleans, Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington.

Miami, now 2-7, will return home to host the 7-2 Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday at 7:30 PM ET.