MIAMI --- Josh Smith apologized to Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra moments before tipoff of Friday's pivotal Game 6 matchup at AmericanAirlines Arena.
He had been roasted for two days for the ill-timed, between-the-legs failed dunk attempt in the fourth quarter of the Hawks' Game 5 victory at Philips Arena. Spoelstra accused Smith of trying to embarrass his team with a dunk like that with the Hawks leading comfortably.
The replay made the rounds on the highlight shows and Smith was roasted by sports-talk radio shows and TV shows from coast to coast Thursday and all day Friday.
Smith said he just wanted to make sure Spoelstra knew he wasn't trying to show anyone up with the dunk.
"That was for our fans," Smith said of the move he tried. "They've been great to us all season, and they were out in full force Wednesday, so I was rewarding them for helping us get the win. I was just trying to show our fans some love in return for what they've given us all year. It was nothing more than that.
"So when I hear people questioning why'd I do something like that or wondering if I was trying to mock the other team, I just wanted coach Spoelstra to know that wasn't the case."
Smith and Spoelstra shook hands after talking.
NBA playoffs: Hawks vs. Heat, Game 6
