NBA
OTD in 2013: Miami Heat Big 3 Beat Spurs in Game 7 for Back-to-Back Titles
June 20, 2013: After a thrilling Game 6, the Miami Heat pulled out a Game 7 victory led by LeBron James to win consecutive championships
NBA/YouTube
The Big Three Miami Heat responded after a disappointing 2011 Finals defeat with a dominant victory over Kevin Durant and the OKC Thunder, earning LeBron James and Chris Bosh their first Championships and Dwyane Wade his second. As impressive as the feat was, for such a talented team, championship or bust virtually became three-peat or bust.
At the very least they were counted on to repeat. That expectation turned to doubt after they fell 3-2 against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2013 Finals. A legacy saving shot from sharpshooter Ray Allen gave them the opportunity for a Game 7 where it would be up to the Big Three whether they could walk the walk and claim back-to-back titles for the first time in franchise history.
LEBRON JAMES LED MIAMI TO A GAME 7 FINALS VICTORY OVER SAN ANTONIO
Several interesting dichotomies existed between the Heat and Spurs. Miami built its team through free agency, was young and hungry for championships, and played an isolation style of basketball popular at the time. The Spurs built their team through the draft, were seasoned, in the midst of a dynasty of their own, and their aged stars had adapted to a pass-first style of basketball that would become the future.
If not for a tragic injury to Russell Westbrook in the first round, 2013 may have been a Finals rematch of 2012, but the Spurs proved to be a far more formidable challenge than the young Thunder squad. The Finals did not disappoint as San Antonio and Miami went back and forth trading wins. The Spurs seemed ready to close out the series in Game 6 up three with under ten seconds to go, but Ray Allen knocked down an iconic three to force overtime, giving his team a chance.
They would win in the end and go on to Game 7. Led by 37 points from LeBron James, tied for the highest scoring output in an NBA Finals Game 7 win, the Heat outscored the Spurs by six in the fourth to clinch a seven-point victory. The repeat complete, the King also earned his second Finals MVP. Next season they would face the Spurs a second time, only to lose in six games with a less healthy squad intact.
June 20, 2013: Coming off a big Game 6 win to tie the series, the Miami #Heat defeated the Spurs in Game 7 to win their 2nd consecutive championship, led by back-to-back Finals MVP LeBron James who tied the most PTS (37) during a NBA Finals Game 7 win everpic.twitter.com/2qLtvYD8vq
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) June 20, 2021
Share this Miami Heat championship article with friends and follow for more great sports content!
