Spurs easily rout depleted Heat 106-86

(Associated Press )
Updated: 2006-11-23 17:13

The Spurs led for all but 20 seconds of the first quarter and were ahead 19-18 in the second before blowing open the game.

San Antonio extended the lead to 10 midway through the quarter with two 3-pointers from Barry and help from Duncan, who was left smiling after he missed an easy dunk but got the rebound and added two points with a layup. Barry added two more with free throws and rattled in another 3-pointer, putting the Spurs ahead 57-38 at the break.

Parker had 17 in the half, with seven of those coming in the last 1:41. He was followed by Duncan and Barry, each with 11. Wade led the Heat with 13 in the half.

The league's crackdown on complaining was in effect, with the Heat's Gary Payton getting a technical foul in the second for complaining about one given to Wade just moments earlier.

Two buckets from Wade in a 36-second span of the third cut the Heat's deficit to 14. But Duncan and Ginobili had eight points apiece in the period, helping San Antonio take a 23-point lead heading down the final stretch.

Despite outscoring the Spurs in the final quarter, Miami got no closer than 19, even after both coaches pulled their starters.

"Even though we are not at full strength, we are not performing to the best of our abilities," Wade said.


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