Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
James, Miami take series lead
MIAMI — It’s there every day for LeBron James and the Heat — the sting of last year’s NBA Finals loss.
Two more victories and it will be a distant memory.
James had 29 points and 14 rebounds, and the Miami Heat took a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals with a 91-85 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night. Dwyane Wade had 25 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for the Heat, who were in this same position through three games last year, then didn’t win again against the Dallas Mavericks.
“We carry that pain with us,” Heat forward Chris Bosh said. “We think about it every day and that really helps us to succeed in this series.”
James’ three-pointer sent the Heat to the fourth quarter
with a 69- 67 lead, and he scored five consecutive Miami points when the Heat were building just enough of a cushion to hold off another late flurry by the Thunder.
“Big time player makes big time plays on the big stage,” Heat reserve James Jones said. Game 4 is Tuesday night. Kevin Durant had 25 points for the Thunder, but picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter and had to go to the bench when they had seemed to have control of the game.
“It was frustrating,” Durant said. “Of course we had a good lead and they came back and made some shots. We fouled shooters on the three-point line twice. It’s a tough break for us, man. You know, I hate sitting on the bench, especially with fouls.”
The Heat survived their own fourth-quarter sloppiness — nine turnovers — by getting enough big plays from their top three players.
James scored 30 and 32 points in the first two games, his two best finals performances. He fell just shy of another 30-point effort but reached 20 points for the 20th time this postseason, two shy of Wade’s franchise record set in 2006.
Bosh had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat, who can win a second title by winning the next two games at home. That’s what they did in 2006, one of just two home teams to sweep the middle three games in the 2-3-2 format.
They seemed out of it when Oklahoma City opened a 10point lead midway through the third. But Durant had just gone out with 5:41 left on Wade’s baseline drive, though there appeared to be little or no contact. Thunder Coach Scott Brooks decided to sit Russell Westbrook with him, and the Heat charged into the lead by the end of the period.
Westbrook looked angry going to the bench, but denied any frustration afterward.
“Nah, man. I mean, coach’s decision,” Westbrook said. “Got to live with it.”
The Thunder had grabbed their last lead at 77-76 on James Harden’s basket with 7:32 left. James answered with two free throws 20 seconds later, and the teams would trade turnovers and stops over the next couple of tense minutes.
Wade then converted a three-point play, and another minute went by before James powered to the basket, Durant trying to get in position to draw a charge but watching helplessly as he picked up his fifth foul. James made the free throw for an 84-77 advantage with 3:47 left.
After another basket by James, the Thunder had one last run, scoring six consecutive to get within 84-83 before Bosh made two free throws with 1:19 to play. Durant missed badly on a wild shot attempt, and the Thunder missed another chance when Westbrook was off from threepoint range.
James hit a free throw for a four-point lead with 16 seconds to go and Wade added two to close it out.
“It’s very hard,” James said. “Both teams are very active defensively and both teams make it hard on one another in the half court so when you get stops you try to get early offense, it always helps and we were able to do that a little bit.”