体坛英语新闻：Heat tie series 1-1 with big efforts from bench

MIAMI, Florida, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Mario Chalmers stoled the show from the Big Three with the game-high 19 points to lead the Miami Heat to a 103-84 win over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals on Sunday here.

The Heat tied the best-of-seven series 1-1 before they travel to San Antonio for the following three road games in row.

LeBron James scored 17 points while Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade adding 12 and 10. The Heat bench scored 40 points in total, led by Ray Allen's 13.

"One of the things we talked about is contributing in whatever way you can, even if it's small minutes, big minutes," said Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra.

"That's when they're at their best. When the perimeter is making shots, when the bench is playing well, when you have a lot of contributors, that helps you win basketball games," Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich said.

The game was quite even as Game 1 at least in the first half when neither team could manage a lead more than five points and the lead was changed several times, before the Heat led 50-45 before the break.

James struggled on the offensive end with just eight points in the first three quarters, but his eight rebounds, seven assists, three steals and three blocks meant a lot to his team.

"LeBron couldn't get into a rhythm early on, and other guys stepped up. He showed great poise and trust in not getting caught up in feeling like he had to make the play or score, but rather eighter facilitate or let other guys make plays," Spoelstra added.

Allen and Mike Miller buried a pair of 3-pointers and Chalmers made a three-point play down the stretch of the third quarter to give the home team the first double-digit lead on 75-65.

With Tim Duncan on the bench for the entire fourth quarter, the Spurs failed to stop the run of the Heat, which scored another nine straight points to lead 84:65.

A 16-2 run in four minutes created a 24-point gap in favor to the Heat and the Spurs rested most of their starters from then on.

Danny Green had the team-high 17 points for the Spurs. Tony Parker scored 13 points, much fewer than the 22.9 points averaging during the playoffs. Duncan had just nine points.

"We didn't play well. We didn't shoot well. I know I played awfully. Whatever it may be, they responded better than us. So hopefully we can look forward to this Game 3 and regain some of our composure," Duncan said.