Leonard, Gasol lead Spurs past Heat
MIAMI -- Kawhi Leonard posted 27 points and six assists and Pau Gasol added 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the undefeated San Antonio Spurs to a 106-99 victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Leonard scored the Spurs' final 12 points. San Antonio (4-0) also got 18 points from backup point guard Patty Mills.
The Heat (1-2), who overcame a 16-point second-quarter deficit and took a lead midway through the fourth, have lost six straight games in its series with the Spurs.
Miami center Hassan Whiteside had 27 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks -- game highs in all three categories -- but was forced out of the game due to leg cramps with 4:54 left in the fourth quarter. He did not return.
Miami point guard Goran Dragic scored 25 points and had five assists but starting shooting guard Dion Waiters was held to nine points while committing a game-high six turnovers.
San Antonio led 24-19 at the end of the first quarter. The Spurs held Miami to 35-percent shooting in the quarter and forced five turnovers.
San Antonio led by as many as 16 points in the second quarter but the Heat, led by Whiteside, put together a 9-0 run, and the Spurs settled for a 52-44 halftime lead. Whiteside had 15 points and nine rebounds at the half.
Miami cut its deficit to 77-72 after three quarters. The Heat shot 54.5 percent in the third quarter after making less than 43 percent in each of the first two periods.
Miami, which hadn't led since 3-0 at the start of the game, pulled even at 79-79 with 10:23 left in the fourth quarter on Justise Winslow's bucket in the lane. A basket by Dragic with 6:48 left in the fourth finally gave Miami the lead at 87-86.
But down the stretch, Leonard was too much for Miami.
NOTES: The Spurs rested PF LaMarcus Aldridge, a five-time All-Star, as part of their customary plan to keep veteran players fresh. The Spurs had rested PG Tony Parker and SG Manu Ginobili in their previous game on Saturday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. ... Spurs PF David Lee started in place of Aldridge. Lee, 33, was a starter the first nine years in the league. But he started a combined total of just nine games the past two years. ... Willie Reed, Miami's 6-foot-10 backup center, is hoping to establish himself this year. The 26-year-old been released four times by NBA teams since he went undrafted out of St. Louis University in 2011. He spent four years in the NBA Development League. ... Heat SF Justise Winslow is being used at point guard in certain situations. ... Miami's three-game homestand ends Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings. ... The Spurs return home to face the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.