SAN ANTONIO, March 5 (UPI) -- Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker boosted San Antonio to a quick start Friday and the Spurs went on to demolish Miami 125-95.
San Antonio caught Miami in a downward spiral and also took advantage of an unexpected early return from an injury by Parker to improve the NBA's best home record to 29-2.
Miami suffered a deflating home loss to Orlando Thursday, letting a huge lead get away in the second half, and then had to travel to take on the league's top team.
The Spurs seized on the opportunity, taking a 24-point lead after one period and then shook off a sluggish second quarter to pull away over the final 24 minutes.
Ginobili scored 20 points to lead the Spurs and Parker had 15. After Parker underwent an MRI Monday for a strained calf muscle, it was announced he would be out of action for 2-to-4 weeks. Instead, he missed only two games.
The one-sided nature of Friday's contest allowed Parker to sit out most of the second half and he played only 22 minutes overall.
San Antonio shot 56 percent for the game and was 17-of-28 from beyond the 3-point arc.
LeBron James had 26 points and eight rebounds for the Heat, who have lost three in a row but who maintained a 3 1/2-game lead over Orlando in the Southeast Division.
