It seemed like this one was all but over early, with the Spurs tying a franchise record for three-pointers in a quarter, going 8-of-11, jumping out to a 36-12 lead at the end of the first.
The Heat managed to cut the lead to 12 at the half, but the Spurs outscored the Heat 33-22 in the third and went into the fourth quarter with a 24 point lead.
Heat head coach Erik Spolestra pulled all of his starters with about eight minutes to go in the game, in a statement that all but admitted defeat.
The Heat simply didn't have it Friday, in a loss that was their most lopsided of the season, in an effort that might have been their weakest. In what has become a recurring theme in the last five games, the Heat neglected to defend perimeter jump shots, with the Spurs converting on 17-of-28 three-pointers which was also a franchise record.
"This is a team that's clicking on all cylinders right now," Lebron James said when speaking about he Spurs. "Everyone on the team has confidence, Tim Duncan all the way down to the last guy off the bench. We saw tonight why they are the best team in the league."
The Heat's big three all put up solid numbers offensively with James leading the way with 26 points, but a lack of production from the bench aside from Mike Miller and constant defensive breakdowns is what proved to be the difference.
The Heat were again torched by one the leagues best point guards in Tony Parker, who dissected the Heat's defense with ease, finding wide open shooters at all angles of the court.
After the loss, Dwyane Wade spoke of the need to right the ship immediately, with a game Sunday against the Chicago Bulls, who took over the second seed in the East with a win Friday.
"We've been through losing before, so it's not anything new," Wade said. "In this league you can turn it around fast or you can stay in it for a while."
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