It turned out the Miami Heat had plenty in reserve for the Dallas Mavericks.
MIAMI (AP) — It turned out the Miami Heat had plenty in reserve for the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavs were expected to enjoy an edge off the bench in the NBA finals, but the Heat had the better backups in Game 1. In the battle of the subs, Miami outscored Dallas 27-17, and that margin made the difference in the Heat’s 92-84 victory Tuesday night.
"I don’t anticipate that every game we would outscore their bench," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said.
The Heat’s reserves had a 15-8 edge in rebounds.
Dallas’ reserves shot only 4 for 22 (18 percent). Peja Stojakovic was shut out in 15 minutes, and Jose Barea penetrated well but shot only 1 for 8.
Jason Terry, one of the NBA’s top reserves, scored 12 points in the first half but none in the second, when the Mavericks failed to protect an eight-point lead.
For Miami off the bench, Udonis Haslem had seven points and six rebounds, and Mike Miller had six points and five rebounds. Both have missed most of the season with injuries.
"We’re a little bit healthier now with Mike and U.D.," Spoelstra said.
Miller, who has battled a series of injuries, played for the first time with a left sleeve and grimaced in pain several times in the second half. After the game he left the locker room with his left arm in a sling but said he was all right.
Haslem frequently defended Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 27 points but shot just 7 for 18.
"I’m not focusing much on offense," Haslem said. "We have enough guys making shots. Right now my job is to defend probably the best player in the playoffs right now."
Mario Chalmers led the Heat backups with 12 points, making three 3-pointers.
"I had some easy looks — not easy, but open looks," Chalmers said. "I was able to knock them down after I missed my first couple shots."
Even 38-year-old Juwan Howard contributed for Miami, making two free throws for his first points in an NBA final 6,180 days after he was drafted.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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