Spurs beat both the Heat and the heat to take 1-0 lead

ANKARA 

NBA fans were forced to watch the Spurs beat the Miami Heat 110-95 in the opening game of the 2014 NBA Finals amid stifling temperatures after the air conditioning broke down in San Antonio Spurs' home ground AT&T Center.

Fans and players had to cope with 32-degree Celsius temperatures as they watched a close game throughout the first three quarters, with the Spurs leading the first quarter 26-20, and the half 54-49.

The Heat got points from its superstar Lebron James and veteran shooter Rashard Lewis as they took a six-point lead at the end of the third quarter at 75-69.

The Spurs got back on track with the help of their 38 year-old superstar Tim Duncan, point guard Tony Parker and sharp-shooter Danny Green and won the game 110-95.

Lebron James could not play the late fourth quarter, as he was constantly in pain due to severe cramps.

He finished the game with 25 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds.

Chris Bosh's 18 points and 9-rebound performance and Dwayne Wade's 19-point effort was not enough for the Heat.

Significant help

On the victorious Spurs' side, Tim Duncan played with 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead his team.

He shot 9-10 from the field and posted his 156th NBA Playoffs' double-double, only one shy of tying Magic Johnson's all-time post-season record.

San Antonio also got significant help from Tony Parker with 19 points and eight assists, and Manu Ginobili with 16 points and 11 assists.

The Spurs also shot 13-25 from the three-point range and dished out a total of 30 assists in the game, 14 better than the Heat.

Meanwhile, Lebron James became only the third player in NBA Playoffs' history to pass 4,000 points, 1,000 assists and 1,000 rebounds.

The other two players were Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

The second game of the series will be played in Miami on Sunday, at 8 p.m. local time (01:00GMT).

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