Spurs race away in first half to take 2-1 lead over Heat

San Antonio made an NBA Finalsrecord 75.8 per cent of their shots in the first half to set up an 111-92 victory over Miami yesterday to take a 2-1 series lead.

The Spurs made 19 of their first 21 shots and finished 25 of 33 in the first half, bettering the 75 per cent shooting by Orlando against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009.

“I don’t think we’ll ever shoot 76 per cent in a half ever again,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

Unlike Game 1, when they pulled away in the final minutes, the Spurs were up comfortably before halftime in this one.

Returning to the arena where they were so close to winning a fifth championship last year, the Spurs came out playing like they were trying to build a lead that was impossible to blow.

They shot 13 of 15 and led 41-25 after the first quarter, then hit their first six shots of the second in front of a stunned crowd in Miami to go ahead 55-30.

Kawhi Leonard scored a careerhigh 29 points, sinking 10 of 13. Leonard scored only 18 points in the first two games, looking frustrated while getting into foul trouble trying to defend LeBron James in Game 2. But he had his outside shot working early and the effect on the Spurs’ offence was obvious.

Danny Green and Tony Parker each had 15 points for the Spurs.

James and Dwyane Wade had 22 points each for the Heat, who host Game 4 tomorrow.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said San Antonio “came out at a different gear than what we were playing at, and it just seemed we were on our heels the most part of the first half”.

Miami cut it to 14 late in the first half, but the Spurs closed with a 9-2 burst to make it 71-50.