Heat-Thunder Preview

By BRIAN MAHONEY
Posted Jun 13 2012 8:13PM

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Not many know much about the guy who dominated Game 1 of the NBA Finals other than he's pretty good.

Kevin Durant is a mystery even to some of the players trying to beat him.

"It's one of those things where I respect his game, but I don't know him, either. I know probably just as much as you guys know," Miami's Dwyane Wade said Wednesday.

That's just the way Durant likes it.

He doesn't seek the spotlight and it seldom comes to Oklahoma looking for him. He rarely makes much news and wouldn't read it anyway, preferring the quiet life LeBron James gave up any hope of when he went to Miami and promised all those championships at that big welcoming party two summers ago.

Durant instead committed to remaining in Oklahoma City that same month, bypassing a big announcement by revealing on Twitter he had agreed to a contract extension.

He may not be able to hide much longer.

A few more performances like he had in the opener - when he scored 17 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter of the Thunder's 105-94 victory - and Durant could take his place as the league's biggest star.

Yet he pays no more attention to praise than he does criticism - unless it comes from within his organization.

"I have faith in all those things that I do day in and day out: Coming in, working hard, believing in myself and my teammates, and believing in the system. Whatever happens after that, it happens, as long as I know that I come in and give it my all every single day," Durant said. "I can't worry about what other people say or expectations they put on me. It's just all about how I view myself and how my teammates view me, and we'll go from there."

Game 2 is Thursday night, another chance for Durant to build on what's already one of the league's strongest resumes in recent years: Three-time scoring champion. MVP of the All-Star game. MVP of the world basketball championship.

On the floor, his name belongs with James, Wade, Kobe Bryant, or any of the NBA's brightest stars. Away from the court, Durant doesn't seem interested in anything that would force his name into the discussion, with Wade comparing him to San Antonio's Tim Duncan.

"And sometimes it's where you're at. If he was in Los Angeles, Chicago, somewhere, it would be a little different," Wade said. "Being in Oklahoma kind of dims his light a little bit. Not him on the basketball court, but him off the court. There's not a lot of exciting things going on out here."

Well, except for Durant's performances.

His scoring average and shooting percentage have gone up every round, and he matched his high scoring game of this postseason on Tuesday. He did hear some criticism for being too passive and taking only four shots over the middle two quarters, but he brushes that off as easily as he does defenders.

"I don't want to sound like a jerk or anything, but I really don't care what people say outside the locker room, outside of this organization, what I need to do or what I didn't do. I really don't care," Durant said. "You know, I'm a guy that lets the game come to me but is also aggressive at the same time. I know when to take shots, when to make the right play.

"People can say this and that. I learn to just tune it out and just play my game."

James and Wade are as much celebrities as athletes, answering questions about fashion Wednesday while every inquiry to Durant was about basketball. And with more attention on the Miami duo, so is the "noise" that coach Erik Spoelstra says the team is always trying to ignore.

Last year it was focused on James after his repeated fourth-quarter failures in the Heat's loss to Dallas. He was outplayed in the final period by Durant on Wednesday but otherwise had a strong game, his 30 points his most ever in the finals.

Now the blame seems to be shifted toward Wade, who hasn't been consistent this postseason while perhaps still dealing with knee pain. He shot just 7 for 19 in Game 1, with Spoelstra denying there was anything physically wrong.

James may remind Wade he needs more from his partner Thursday.

"A lot of times I try to let him figure it out on his own, but sometimes I go to him and tell him I need one of those games from him, I need one of those performances from him, because he still has it," James said. "He knows he still has it, too, but every player needs a little kick every now and then, no matter how time tested they are."

Wade was briefly THE guy in the NBA six years ago, leading the Heat to an NBA title at 24 and looking as if he could have plenty of years on top.

Things are set up for Durant, just 23, to inherit that role now. He can put himself on a list along with Michael Jordan, Bryant and Willis Reed, who were MVPs of the All-Star game and finals in the same year, then will chase Olympic gold with the U.S. team this summer.

Game 1 had barely ended when already Durant was talking about what he could do better in Game 2, and that's as far as he'll look for now.

"I'm just taking it a day at a time," he said. "It's just a blessing to be here, not just in the finals but being in the NBA, having this opportunity to do something I love to do, and just take it slow, take it a day at a time, keep working every single day, and at the end we'll see where I'm at. But I can't think too far down the line. Just got to be ready for the next day and prepare myself right for whatever happens."

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Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney

Heat survive Thunder rally for 100-96 win

By BRIAN MAHONEY
Posted Jun 15 2012 4:20AM

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) LeBron James had received plenty of help from Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and now he had to finish it on his own.

With what Wade called the loudest crowd he'd ever heard booing, certain James had just fouled Kevin Durant, the league's MVP walked to the free throw line with 7.1 seconds left and the Miami Heat's huge lead down to two points.

The guy who has endured too many fourth-quarter failures wasn't letting another NBA Finals game get away.

James made both free throws, completing a 12-for-12 performance at the line and a 32-point night, and the Heat held on for a 100-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night that evened the series at one game apiece.

"On a big stage like this in a big game like this, every point counts, every point matters. So you go to the free throw line, no matter how hostile the environment, and try to knock them down," James said.

"Like I said, I'm happy that I was able to go up there and make a few plays, go up there and make my free throws. We needed it. We needed every point tonight."

Wade rebounded from a poor opener to add 24 points and Bosh had 16 points and 15 rebounds in his return to the starting lineup for the Heat, who needed a big night from their Big Three to snap a four-game finals losing streak with their first victory since Game 3 against Dallas last year.

"It's been so long since we've had them all together," Heat forward Shane Battier said. "They played like the All-Stars that they are and that's the effort that we need."

Now they go home to host Game 3 on Sunday and the next two after that, knowing they don't have to hear the noisy Thunder fans again - not to mention all their critics - if they win all three.

Miami blew a 13-point lead in Game 1 and seemed headed toward a repeat of the second game of the finals last year, when it blew a 15-point edge on its home floor.

Not this time.

"This is a good team and we didn't want to be down 2-0," Bosh said. "We know in order to accomplish our goal, we have to win on the road. We're a good road team. We've done it before. They posed a great challenge because they haven't lost up until today. But we felt that we let one get away and we felt that we could play a much, much better game in Game 2."

Durant scored 32 points for the Thunder, but missed a short jumper with 9.9 seconds left after appearing to be bumped by James. The basket would have tied a game the Thunder trailed the entire way.

Oklahoma City's explosive point guard Russell Westbrook finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, but shot 10 of 26 from the field.

James Harden tried to keep the Thunder in it early and finished with 21 points, but this time the Thunder couldn't come back from a double-digit deficit after spotting Miami a 17-point advantage during their worst first half of the season.

"That was the game. We can't start off down 18-2," Durant said. "We can't go down that much, especially at home. We've got to correct it."

It was the first home loss in 10 postseason games for the Thunder, who have trailed by double digits in their last three games.

James had what was his career high, 30 points, in the opener, but afterward said Wade needed to be Wade - All-Star, Olympic gold medalist and finals MVP.

In Game 1, Wade was 7 of 19. He wasn't sharp in the last round and continues to hear reports that something is physically wrong with him. He was all but asked Wednesday if his explosiveness was a thing of the past, what must have been insulting to a player who, though 30, still believes he's not far from the top of the game.

Wade bounced back in a big way, not quite at the level he was as the 2006 finals MVP, but certainly good enough with the help around him now for the Heat to win another one.

"Just know that I'm always going to keep coming back until I don't play this game no more," Wade said. "I know my abilities, I know what I'm capable of and it was good."

He spun into the lane and found Bosh for a dunk that seemed to have the Heat safe at 98-91 inside the final minute, but a 3-pointer by Durant cut it to 98-96 with 37 seconds left. After James missed a 3-pointer, the Thunder got the ball into Durant, who appeared to be knocked off balance by James as he missed the baseline shot attempt.

Durant said only that he missed the shot, saying he would have to watch the tape to see if he was fouled.

Bosh started after coming off the bench in every game since returning late last round from his nine-game absence with a strained lower abdominal muscle. The Big Three joined Battier and Mario Chalmers in the lineup, the first time Miami had gone with that first five all season.

It sent the Heat on their way to a terrific start, and Battier matched his surprising 17-point performance in Game 1 by going 5 of 7 from 3-point range, providing all the help the superstar trio needed.

James had his fifth straight 30-point game, breaking Wade's franchise playoff record, and added eight rebounds. He defended Durant early and helped put the league's scoring champion in foul trouble, just one of the problems the Thunder had early.

Another loud, blue and white crowd tried to inspire them to rally, but Durant and company never got close until the final minutes.

Durant nailed a 3-pointer and drove into the lane to throw down a dunk over Battier that cut it to 82-74 with 8:22 remaining. His 3-pointer from the wing trimmed it to 90-86, and the Thunder got it all the way to 94-91 when Westbrook dunked Durant's miss with 1:48 to go.

James answered by banking in a jumper for his first basket of the final period, as the Big Three combined for all but one of Miami's seven field goals in the fourth quarter.

The Thunder missed 11 of their first 12 shots, and when James capped a run of 13 straight Miami points with a basket, it was 18-2 with 4:51 remaining in the period.

Coach Scott Brooks had talked to his team about its poor starts and told the Thunder during a first-quarter timeout that the Heat were playing harder than they were. The Heat kept it up, pushing it to 25-8 on Wade's jumper with 2:39 left.

"We kept missing good shots," Thunder forward Serge Ibaka said. "We can do better."

Notes: The Heat used their 25th different lineup in their 86 games this season, including seventh of the postseason. The most frequently used lineup in the regular season, with James, Wade, Bosh, Chalmers and center Joel Anthony, has not opened a game in the postseason after going 27-10 during the regular season. ... Reserve James Jones checked in for the Heat in the first quarter after missing Game 1 with a migraine. ... Former Oklahoma star running back Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings was at the game. ... A powerful storm knocked out cable in many South Florida homes, keeping Heat fans from seeing the entire game.

Notebook: Heat 100, Thunder 96

Posted Friday June 15, 2012 12:55AM

By Randy Renner, NBA.com

THE FACTS: The Miami Heat jumped out to a big lead (18-2) in the first quarter and then held off a furious Oklahoma City rally to beat the Thunder 100-96 and tie the NBA Finals at 1-1 heading to south Florida. The Thunder got back to within two points and had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds, but a shot by Kevin Durant bounced off the rim. Durant thought he'd been fouled by LeBron James, but no whistles blew. The stars for both teams shined bright. James and Durant led all scorers with 32 apiece. James also had eight rebounds and five assists with 12 of his points coming at the free throw line, including the last two of the game. Durant took only six foul shots, about half his normal number. Dwyane Wade added 24 points on 10-for-20 shooting to go along with six rebounds and five assists. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook got off to a terrible start (1-for-8), but finished strong (18 second-half points) to end the game with 27. He also had eight rebounds and seven assists. James Harden bounced back from a bad first game to score 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting. The Heat got a big long-range night from Shane Battier as he nailed five 3-pointers and ended with 17 points. Chris Bosh added 16 while grabbing 15 rebounds, seven of those on the offensive end.

QUOTABLE: "I knew we needed more of Chris Bosh ... he was sensational. We needed every bit of his "big" tonight and that's what we got. He gave us a lot in the paint and we need that again and again and again."
-- Heat coach Eric Spoelstra

QUOTABLE II: "Rebounding has been a big emphasis for us, it's something we can get better at and I just wanted to do my part and help out on defense. I thought I needed to give the effort tonight that I'd been giving before whether I was ready or not. I just wanted to be more aggressive."
-- Heat forward Chris Bosh

QUOTABLE III: "They played attack basketball and got us on our heels. We have to play better from the very start. We missed shots and gave them too many easy shots. They have three great players and all three had great games."
-- Thunder coach Scott Brooks

THE STAT: Miami is now 4-3 following a loss this postseason ... For the first time in these playoffs, the Thunder trailed for an entire game. ... James went 12-for-12 from the free-throw line, marking the second-most free throws he's made in a playoff game in his career. His high was a 13-for-13 night against the Bulls in Game 4 of last season's East finals.

THE STAT II: In the first three games these teams played this season, Oklahoma City dominated the hustle and muscle stats. Tonight Miami either won them or at least played even up. The Heat out-rebounded the Thunder 40-36 ... Miami dominated in the paint 48-32 ... The Heat played even in second chance points,12-12, and stayed almost even on the fast break, 10-11. Miami scored all of its fast-break points in the first half while OKC scored all of its in the second half.

TURNING POINT: That first quarter buried the Thunder in a deep hole. They missed 11 of their first 12 shots and fell behind 18-2 as the Heat ended the quarter with a 27-15 lead. It marked the only quarter in Game 2 in which Miami outscored OKC.

QUOTABLE III: "We can't start off 18 and 2. We can't get down that much especially at home we gotta correct it. I gotta stay positive and keep workin'."
-- Thunder forward Kevin Durant

HOT: Harden was 5-for-9 (2-for-3 on 3-pointers) in the first half. His 17 points led the Thunder ... Shane Battier was 5-for-6 (4-for-5 on 3-pointers) halfway through the third quarter. He also hit five of his first six shots in Game 1 ... In the third quarter, Oklahoma City was 9-for-16 (56.3 percent) ... Durant had 16 points in the fourth quarter.

NOT: OKC started 1-for-12 (8.3 percent) ... Miami started 3-for-10 (30 percent) ... At the 5:30 mark in the second quarter, Westbrook (1-for-8) and Durant (1-for-6) were a combined 2-for-14 ... Durant was 1-for-6 on 3-pointers at the end of the third quarter.

INSIDE THE ARENA: A longer than usual but a tremendous rendition of the National Anthem by country music star Sara Evans. Sitting courtside tonight were Saturday Night Live star and movie actor Bill Hader (a Tulsa native), Minnesota Vikings (and former Oklahoma) running back Adrian Peterson and NBA superfan Jimmy Goldstein.

GOOD MOVE: The Heat came out with James guarding Durant and then later in the first quarter, switched over to Battier. Both were effective. Wade, who has struggled in the half since the Pacers series, was on his game early. He went 3-for-6 in the first quarter with three rebounds and three assists.

GOOD MOVE TOO: After being outscored 24-4 on the fast break in Game 1, Miami led OKC 10-0 in fast-break points and had outscored OKC in the paint 26-10 by halftime.

GOOD MOVE III: James just keeps driving to the basket and the Thunder seem helpless to stop it. After Durant picked up his third foul late in the third quarter, James went right at him and KD was whistled for his fourth.

BAD MOVE: Westbrook is often criticized when he takes more shots than Durant and in the first quarter , he took more than twice as many as Durant, hitting just one of the seven he put up. In his defense, many of those shots were layups that simply hung on the rim and didn't fall through. Brooks said before the game the left wrist Westbrook had iced during today's shootaround would not affect his play, but maybe it did. Westbrook overcame a terrible first quarter to have a great second half.

BAD MOVE TOO: Brooks said before the game his team needed a better start than in Game 1. Instead, he got one of the worst starts of the season. OKC trailed 18-2 with 4:39 left in the first quarter and the Thunder missed 11 of their first 12 shots.

NOTABLE: This is the first playoff game Oklahoma City has lost at home (9-1).

UP NEXT: Sunday Game 3 @ Miami

• Heat: Curry, Pittman
• Thunder: Jackson, Maynor

• Heat: --
• Thunder: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
• Officials: #43 Dan Crawford, #25 Tony Brothers, #49 Tom Washington
• Attendance: 18203
• Duration: 2:41