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FINAL: Shorthanded Spurs torched by Heat 112-95

San Antonio looked rudderless with three starters injured, and the game was functionally over by the start of the fourth quarter.

SAN ANTONIO —

Postgame

Game Story

First Quarter

San Antonio came out focused, and wound up building an early lead on top of Miami's frustration. Derrick White hit a pair of threes and scored 8 of San Antonio's first 14 points. 

Duncan Robinson shot 3-5 from deep in the opening period, but the Spurs did a decent job of limiting Miami. Thad Young opened the contest with a steal, and Drew Eubanks came off the bench with a big dunk and big block in quick succession.

San Antonio trailed 21-19 after the first.

Second Quarter

Thad Young grabbed an offensive board and put it back up and in to knot things at 21.

Tyler Herro and Dewayne Dedmon combined for a 7-0 run to force a timeout from Pop. The Heat pushed their lead to 10 before a three by Lonnie Walker IV. Miami answered, but Keldon Johnson hit back with a triple. Miami hit a few more threes, then Devin Vassell answered.

White got to the line and then drove to the cup to help make a 13-pont deficit just six. Miami pushed back, but Walker scored at the rim and White got more free throws.

Keldon Johnson twisted an ankle and walked off the court, and Miami went back up by a dozen before White drilled a three and then drove to the rack for a layup.

San Antonio gave up an unfortunate and-1 to end the half, and went into the locker room down 57-47.

Third Quarter

San Antonio opened the quarter with Keldon Johnson back on the floor, but it was Tre Jones who fueled a 7-3 run to start the half strong. The Spurs went a little cold, White lost his fifth turnover of the game, and Pop took a timeout down 10.

From then on, the Heat made it look like they were speed skating around the court as the Spurs attempted to push a bobsled uphill. Miami finished the quarter on a 24-12 run, putting them up 88-66 heading to the fourth. 

Fourth Quarter

Miami only needed three quarters to win this one. Josh Primo did his best to atone for an awful shooting night in garbage time. 

With 1:45 left in the game, Joe Wieskamp hit San Antonio's second three-pointer of the second half. Miami handed San Antonio a 112-95 loss.

Pregame

The San Antonio Spurs (19-33) will host the Miami Heat (32-20) Thursday night. The Spurs and Heat meet for the first time this season and San Antonio is on a two-game losing skid.

The game has been moved up to 6 p.m. due to winter weather. Dejounte Murray and Doug McDermott are both out, and coach Gregg Popovich said his best guess at a starting lineup was Tre Jones, Derrick White, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and Thad Young.

RELATED: ROAD AND AIR TRAVEL: Icy conditions affecting some roadways in the San Antonio area; Flights canceled at SA airport

In their previous game, the Spurs lost to the depleted Warriors, 124-120, at home Tuesday night. 

Dejounte Murray led the team with 27 points. Lonnie Walker IV had 11 points and Keldon Johnson ended the night with 21 points.

The Spurs were outscored in the final period, 35-16, and saw a 17-point lead evaporate.

"It's a tough loss especially because it [turnovers] was something we can control like that. We've been playing basketball our whole lives and you're up 15 [points] you should win. We got to figure that out," said Derrick White.

RELATED: Q&A with Josh Primo: Becoming the primary ball handler, Austin Spurs and more

Here are five things to watch for in the game:

1. Miami is on a three-game road losing streak.

2. Miami has recorded more assists than their opponent in eight-straight games.

3. Miami is 28-3 this season when leading after the third period.

4. The Spurs are 7-21 versus teams with an above .500 record and are averaging 108.4 points per game in those contests.

5. The Spurs have gone to the free-throw line fewer times than their opponent in six-straight games.

Stay here at KENS 5 throughout the season for complete Spurs coverage.

Twitter: @KENS5, @JeffGSpursKENS5

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