Spurs 119, Heat 101
MIAMI -- The San Antonio Spurs had an extremely rare seven-point possession, and they defeated the Miami Heat 119-101 Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
San Antonio was led by power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (28 points) and small forward Kawhi Leonard (23 points, nine rebounds). The Spurs (44-8) won for the 19th time in 21 games.
The Spurs led 87-80 in the fourth quarter when guard Patty Mills hit a 3-pointer while being fouled by Heat guard Beno Udrih. Mills made his free throw.
However, while in the lane waiting for a potential rebound, Heat center Hassan Whiteside elbowed Spurs center Boban Marjanovic. Whiteside was ejected, and San Antonio got a free throw -- Marjanovic converted -- and the ball. Leonard completed the possession with a baseline jumper.
Whiteside finished with 14 points, six rebounds and two blocks in 25 minutes. Miami was led by guard Dwyane Wade with 20 points and forward Chris Bosh with 18 points.
Miami (29-24) lost fourth consecutive games in its rivalry with San Antonio. Overall this season, the Heat have won six of their past nine games, and they are now off until a Feb. 19 game at the Atlanta Hawks.
As for San Antonio, this marked the start of the Spurs' annual "Rodeo Road Trip." This year, the Spurs will play eight straight road games over three weeks, traveling 6,514 miles while the city of San Antonio hosts a rodeo.
Miami led 24-20 after the first period, holding San Antonio to 25.9 percent shooting from the floor. However, the Spurs improved their shooting to 66.7 percent in the second quarter and took a 54-47 lead into the halftime break.
The Spurs shot 60.9 percent in the third quarter and extended their advantage to 85-75. San Antonio held a 20-0 edge in second-chance points through three quarters.
San Antonio topped Miami 11-1 in offensive rebounds.
NOTES: The Heat announced that they will retire the No. 32, formerly worn by C Shaquille O'Neal, at the start of next season. Shaq, who helped Miami win the 2006 NBA title, is the third former Heat player to have his number retired, joining C Alonzo Mourning and G Tim Hardaway. ... Heat backup SG Tyler Johnson, who had rotator cuff surgery on his left shoulder last week, is expected to be out until mid-April. The playoffs start April 16. He averaged 8.7 points and shot 48.8 percent from the floor this season, including 38.6 percent on 3-pointers. ... The Spurs were without PF Tim Duncan (knee soreness), G/F Kyle Anderson (stomach flu), F/C Matt Bonner (left calf strain) and SG Manu Ginobili (testicular surgery). ... Spurs SG Danny Green and Heat SG Gerald Green are second cousins.