Spurs easily rout depleted Heat 106-86
(Associated Press )Updated: 2006-11-23 17:13
SAN ANTONIO - Without Shaquille O'Neal, the Miami Heat aren't playing championship-caliber basketball.
"We just don't have any respect for winning," the Heat's Udonis Haslem said after a 106-86 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
Tim Duncan scored 19 points, and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili each added 17 for the Spurs. Ginobili had a season-high 25 points Monday at Portland.
"I think Manu in the last week and a half has felt good," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I think he's starting to get in playing shape."
Brent Barry had 15 points and Beno Udrih, who may be proving to be a reliable backup to Parker, added 13 for the Spurs, who had an easy time of it Wednesday.
Dwyane Wade scored 18 points for the Heat (4-7). Earl Barron added 15 and Alonzo Mourning had 10.
Heat coach Pat Riley said his team, which went 33-of-74 from the field (45 percent), "just let it go."
"In the second quarter we just stopped playing, we got frustrated. We went from competing in the first quarter to stop communicating with each other and then we started to complain," Riley said. "And then we got disgusted of ourselves and then we went from disgusting to discouraging to despicable."
The defending NBA champions sounded frustrated and confused while complaining about a lack of communication and being in a funk.
"We just have these lulls where we don't score the basketball and other teams are scoring these runs. We just break down mentally," forward Antoine Walker said.
Popovich didn't focus on Miami's difficulties so much as his own team's success.
"Obviously, Miami is under some tough circumstances right now," he said. "The main thing we were able to take away was that we were able to keep our focus."
Parker also made note of Miami's missing big man, who is out four to six weeks after surgery on his left knee.
"A win is a win," he said. "Obviously, Miami is not the same team without
Shaq, but we still have to play. I thought tonight everyone played well."
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