Both teams tried to "beat the Heat" last night. Only one succeeded.
The Heat dropped game one of the NBA Finals 110-95 in a matchup where Miami lost its biggest star, LeBron James, midway through the fourth quarter due to cramps that flared up for one reason: the Spurs' A/C blew out early in the contest, and temps rocketed to more than 90 degrees on the floor. Muy caliente! The A/C couldn't have picked a worse time to quit life, and unfortunately that will be the story line today, when in reality it should have been an alternative ending to what was a fantastically played first game in this series.
Before LeBron was forced to leave the game, the Heat held a seven-point lead and looked poised to steal home-court advantage; then things fell off the side of a cliff. After LeBron left, the Heat was outscored 33-9, making what was an excellent game for 40 minutes look like a complete blowout on paper.
Overall, Heat fans have to feel good about what they saw for much of the night. With LeBron on the floor, the game was there for the taking until things beyond their control came into play. LeBron was able to score 25 points in the 33 minutes he was on the floor, and was able to get to the basket on numerous occasions, something that didn't occur until game five in last year's finals.
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The Spurs had better luck and dealt with the situation better, so they'll take the 1-0 lead into Sunday's game two.
And now some tweets related to an A/C shitting the bed in the biggest game of the NBA season. What is life.
Cramp issue forces LeBron James to leave end of Game 1 - http://t.co/zgHorGvDwN / https://t.co/yiZpbqcmbQ
— Sporting News NBA (@sn_nba) June 6, 2014
ICY HEAT https://t.co/3HUT7FeMSH
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) June 6, 2014
LeBron can't take this heat anymore! https://t.co/sd6Zsm4q2E
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) June 6, 2014
The A/C game.
— David Alen (@DavidAlen) June 6, 2014
LeBron cramping. Arena got what it wanted.
— Will Manso (@WillManso) June 6, 2014
We lose this game to a broken A/C..... and I mean....
— Chris Joseph (@byChrisJoseph) June 6, 2014
AT&T Center: pic.twitter.com/PLl0QvKPaX
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) June 6, 2014
Where's Lance when you really need him? pic.twitter.com/VrBXmfPFEH
— Headline Miami (@HeadlineMiami) June 6, 2014
Live outdoor view of the AT&T Center pic.twitter.com/mrivdPIwfv
— Alex Donno (@AlexDonno) June 6, 2014
Certain articles are presented in, uh, confusing ways pic.twitter.com/Md47lcyaxo
— Ethan Strauss (@SherwoodStrauss) June 6, 2014
The heat in the arena taking it's toll on the @local10news sports team. pic.twitter.com/tpQsrJrio3
— Will Manso (@WillManso) June 6, 2014
Unreal. pic.twitter.com/d1SfZ4INsc
— Jason Lieser (@PBPjasonlieser) June 6, 2014
Too late Jonathan Martin RT @305ricardo: @AKuperstein pic.twitter.com/T40HCZebVN
— Adam Kuperstein (@AKuperstein) June 6, 2014
That's your truth. #spoisms RT @SBNation: AIR CONDITIONER TRUTHER https://t.co/EgbkEmyGhJ @JoeGoodmanJr
— Joseph Goodman (@JoeGoodmanJr) June 6, 2014
LeBron had to literally be carried off the floor due to cramps pic.twitter.com/2IB01bvURf
— SB Nation NBA (@SBNationNBA) June 6, 2014
Popovich notes there are two days before Game 2 to get A/C in working order. "Hopefully, we can pay our bills."
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) June 6, 2014
It's a crying shame that conditions in an arena is a part of the gm, but coach SPO says they're not making excuses. #HIGHROAD always #class
— MikeInglisHEAT (@MikeInglisHEAT) June 6, 2014
@Rizzmigizz @JoyTaylorTalks @Brendan_Tobin classy Spurs fans? pic.twitter.com/wtsmOxjDDp
— Jason Cobb (@jasoncobb13) June 6, 2014
LeBron James leaves the arena after his cramping issue and a loss. RT @HPbasketball: A limp but that's it. https://t.co/nYc9EBbJ1Y
— Eye on Basketball (@EyeOnBasketball) June 6, 2014
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