Bam Adebayo’s clutch 19-foot jumper as time expired gave the Miami Heat a dramatic 105-103 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. Adebayo finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds, leading Miami to its third win in four games.
Terry Rozier contributed 19 points in his first game since his name surfaced in a federal investigation involving unusual betting patterns tied to his play during the 2023 season with the Charlotte Hornets. Nikola Jovic added 14 points, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. chipped in 10 for the Heat, who improved their record to 24-23.
The Spurs were without their star, Victor Wembanyama, who was ruled out 40 minutes before the game due to an undisclosed illness. The absence marked his sixth missed game of the season. Wembanyama, recently selected as a reserve for the Western Conference All-Star team, was sorely missed by San Antonio. Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 19 points, while Devin Vassell added 18.
Despite Johnson’s efforts, San Antonio (21-25) couldn’t capitalize on a solid performance from their star players. The Spurs’ shooting struggles were evident, as they shot just 41.8% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
Adebayo was the standout performer of the night, finishing 13-of-21 from the field. He also grabbed nine defensive rebounds and played a crucial role in Miami’s final possession. With the Heat trailing by one in the closing seconds, Adebayo drained the game-winning jumper, sealing the victory.
Rozier, who was 7-for-14 from the field and 5-for-9 from three-point range, proved to be a key contributor in Miami’s offense. His strong performance came on the heels of recent betting controversy, but he showed no signs of being distracted by the ongoing investigation.
The Heat managed to hold off the Spurs despite a balanced effort from San Antonio’s supporting cast. Charles Bassey posted nine points and grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds, while Zach Collins added two points and two rebounds in limited minutes. San Antonio’s shooting woes continued, as the team made just 12 of 36 three-pointers.
