Sun Jul 06 01:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Summary:

The Miami Heat defeated the San Antonio Spurs 82-69 in their opening game of the California Classic Summer League. A strong defensive performance, led by Kel’el Ware, and a dominant fourth quarter allowed Miami to secure the win. Pelle Larsson led the Heat in scoring with 18 points, while David Jones Garcia scored 18 for the Spurs.

## News Article:

**Heat’s Defense Clamps Down on Spurs in Summer League Opener**

SAN FRANCISCO – The Miami Heat kicked off their California Classic Summer League campaign with an impressive 82-69 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center on Saturday. Miami’s stifling defense, highlighted by a standout performance from second-year big man Kel’el Ware, proved too much for the Spurs to handle.

The game remained tight through three quarters, with 16 lead changes and neither team able to establish a significant advantage. However, the Heat turned up the intensity in the fourth, outscoring the Spurs 26-18 and maintaining the lead for the final 15 minutes of the game.

Defense was the key to Miami’s success. They forced 17 turnovers while only committing 10 of their own, and out-blocked the Spurs 9-4. Ware finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.

Pelle Larsson led all Heat scorers with 18 points, while Erik Stevenson contributed 16 points off the bench. David Jones Garcia led the Spurs with 18 points and 7 rebounds.

The Heat (1-0) will look to continue their winning streak on Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers, while the Spurs (0-1) will face the Golden State Warriors. The California Classic is part of the larger NBA Summer League, which runs from July 10-20 and features all 30 NBA teams.

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