NBA: Spurs reserves put up good fight, but Ray Allen saves the day for the Heat

Playing without their "Big Three," the less-heralded members of the San Antonio Spurs nearly shocked the Miami Heat, had it not been for the endgame heroics of Ray Allen, who carried his team late to a 105-100 win, Thursday (Friday, PHL time) at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.

Prior to the game, the Spurs opted to send their "Big Three" of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, along with shooter Danny Green, back to San Antonio, to prepare for an upcoming game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The decision to rest their stars did not sit well with league commissioner David Stern, who announced that "substantial sanctions will be forthcoming" for the Spurs.

But despite playing with a skeleton line-up, the Spurs gave the Heat a tremendous fight, with the game seeing 23 lead changes and seven ties.

Late in the fourth quarter, a Gary Neal triple put San Antonio up 98-93, with 2:14 left, but Miami countered with scores by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, to trail by just a point, 89-87, 1:05 remaining.

Neal would miss a three-pointer, which was pulled down by Chris Bosh. That led to a go-ahead triple by Ray Allen off a James assist, putting Miami on top 100-98 with 22 seconds left.

Off a Spurs timeout, Neal would then compound the situation with a big turnover, which led to a split at the line by James for a three-point Heat lead. On the next San Antonio possession, Patty Mills would miss anew from downtown, only for Tiago Splitter to draw a foul on put-back. After hitting the two charities, his side was within a point of the lead, 101-100.

Now needing to foul, with 14 seconds remaining in the game, San Antonio sent Ray Allen to the line, where he canned both free throws. Neal missed from downtown once more, and then Wade put the game away by hitting a pair with three seconds left.

James led all scorers with 23 points, while also adding nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Allen had 20 points off the bench, while Wade and Bosh scored 19 and 18, respectively for the Heat, who were without Shane Battier due to a sprained knee.

Gary Neal came off the bench for 20 points and seven assists to top-score for San Antonio. Tiago Splitter and Matt Bonner bannered the front court for the Spurs, combining for 28 points and 19 rebounds, while rookie Nando De Colo had 15 points, six boards and five dimes.

The plucky Spurs unit out-rebounded Miami 45 to 37, and canned 10 triples to make the game interesting.

Popovich said he hadn't seen Stern's statement so he would not comment on it. The media did tell him what Stern said.

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) November 30, 2012

Popovich: "How can I comment on something I haven't seen."

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) November 30, 2012

After the game, Popovich said he hadn't seen Stern's statement and so would not comment on it. - AMD, GMA News