SAN ANTONIO — In an exciting finish, Bam Adebayo sank a 19-foot jumper as the buzzer sounded, leading the Miami Heat to a narrow 105-103 win against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. The victory was particularly notable as it came with Spurs’ rising star Victor Wembanyama sidelined due to an undisclosed illness.
Adebayo delivered a standout performance, recording 30 points and grabbing 13 rebounds throughout the match. Miami’s Terry Rozier also played a key role, contributing 19 points in his first game since becoming part of a federal investigation linked to unusual betting activities during his time with the Charlotte Hornets. Other notable contributions came from Nikola Jovic, who scored 14 points, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. with 10 points.
For the Spurs, Keldon Johnson emerged as the top scorer with 19 points, while Devin Vassell followed closely with 18. Wembanyama was ruled out about 40 minutes before the game’s start; this marked his sixth missed game of the season, having recently earned a spot on the Western Conference All-Star team.
Adebayo showcased impressive accuracy, hitting 13 out of 21 shots and securing nine defensive boards. This game marked Miami’s third victory in their last four outings.
Looking ahead, the Spurs will hit the road for an extended trip since their home venue, the Frost Bank Center, is set to host a livestock show and rodeo. The Spurs’ next games will take place in Austin on February 20 and 21, with their next game in San Antonio not happening until March 2.
In terms of performance specifics, Rozier excelled with a shooting line of 5 for 9 from beyond the arc and 7 for 14 overall in his 33 minutes on the court. For the Spurs, Charles Bassey contributed with nine points and a remarkable 15 rebounds, while Zach Collins managed only two points and two boards in place of Wembanyama.
A critical moment of the game occurred when Spurs point guard Chris Paul failed to convert a contested 19-foot jumper with just five seconds left on the clock, missing a chance to tie the game in its final moments.
A notable statistic showed that despite Keldon Johnson scoring 15 points or more leading to a 9-3 record in such instances, the Spurs could not take advantage of his 19-point night.
Looking ahead, the Heat will face the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday evening, while the Spurs are set to play against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
