Thunder-Heat Preview

By TIM REYNOLDS
Posted Jun 16 2012 4:37PM

MIAMI (AP) At this point a year ago, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were using words like urgency and desperation.

And that's exactly what the Miami Heat expect the Oklahoma City Thunder to bring into Game 3 of this year's NBA Finals.

So far, this championship series has followed the same script as a year ago, with the home team winning the opening matchup, then falling in Game 2 to lose the home-court edge. Miami took the sting of that into Dallas last year and used it as fuel to win Game 3 - and the Heat will look to ensure that trend doesn't repeat itself when the title matchup resumes on their home floor Sunday night.

"You've got the two best teams in the league right now going against each other," Wade said Saturday, when practices resumed after a day off for both clubs. "So it's going to be a very tough game, but we have to find a way to win it. And it's about taking, like I said, one possession at a time, one second, one minute at a time to make sure we reach our goal - and that's to win the game."

A Game 3 victory assures nothing, a lesson the Heat learned the hard way last year. That win in Dallas was Miami's final victory of the season.

But there are certain truths that will come from the outcome Sunday night. The winner will have home-court advantage. The winner will be two games away from a championship. And the losing club will see what appears to be an already razor-thin margin for error in this series become even more precarious.

"We have no other choice," said Thunder star Kevin Durant, the league's scoring champion. "We lost at home. Tough loss. We've got to get over it, get ready for a tough Game 3. You know, the series is going to be tough. We know that. We know that. You've just got to be ready. It's going to be a fun one."

By now, the Heat aren't shy to say they're completely exhausted about dissecting what went wrong in last year's finals. Still, they know the importance of not letting one loss turn into another - because when that happened against the Mavericks a year ago, there was a parade in Dallas not long afterward.

"I don't know if we were any more motivated in Game 2," Erik Spoelstra said. "What we were was angry about our performance in Game 1. ... You want to throw your best punches out there, and may the best team win. We didn't throw our best punches in Game 1."

Add up the numbers from the first two games of the series, and it turns into something close to a statistical dead heat.

Both teams are shooting 47 percent. Both have made 14 tries from 3-point range (though Miami is shooting a better percentage). The Thunder have grabbed four more rebounds, the Heat whistled for two more fouls. The Thunder outscored Miami by 16 points in the paint during their Game 1 win; the Heat outscored the Thunder by 16 points in the paint during their victory in Game 2.

Of course, the only stat that really matters is the one that's identical: one win each, headed into Sunday.

And if the young Thunder were supposed to be rattled by losing the home-court edge, no one told them.

"We have all the right pieces, from the best scorer in the league, most athletic point guard in the league to the best shot blocker to the best post defender, best wing defender and our bench is one of the best," James Harden said. "This is a perfect team. We are young guns. We get it done. It has to start in Game 3."

Even their young-looking coach doesn't sound worried about the stakes the Thunder will face.

"I've seen all year long a group that's always committed, that always sticks by one another, that believes in the work that we put in," Scott Brooks said. "And that's who they are. It's not going to change. They've always had great ability to bounce back after a tough loss and we expect the guys to come back (Sunday) night with better effort, better play and for 48 minutes."

The Heat expect the same.

It's no secret that falling short last year has been a source of inspiration throughout this season for James and the Heat, and that continues even now.

And for James, one trend from last year is gone. In Game 2, he did what he was criticized for not doing against the Mavs - he closed the game, coming through twice in a one-possession situation. His bank shot with 1:26 left pushed Miami's lead to five, and his two free throws with 7.1 seconds remaining sealed Miami's 100-96 win.

"I'm enjoying it," James said. "I'm having fun with these first two games. I mean, this is a great opportunity for myself and for our team, for both teams. It's a lot of fun being out there and competing at a high level, you know, the intense moment where every possession counts. That's what it's all about. As a competitor you have to enjoy these moments and you love these moments."

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Follow Tim Reynolds on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ByTimReynolds

James scores 29, Heat rally past Thunder 91-85

By BRIAN MAHONEY
Posted Jun 18 2012 3:15AM

MIAMI (AP) The Miami Heat have been here before, two wins from an NBA title.

The difference now? LeBron James isn't letting his head get in the way of his talent.

James had 29 points and 14 rebounds, and the Heat took a 2-1 series lead with a 91-85 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night.

Miami also won Game 3 of the finals last year, but that was its last victory as the Dallas Mavericks stormed to the title. It was a painful failure for James, who looks determined to prevent a similar collapse.

"He had a game where he struggled and he kind of let that get into his mind a little bit and he was thinking too much. Now he's playing, he's on attack and being very aggressive," Dwyane Wade said. "He's playing very aggressive and that's the difference obviously from last year to this year, and the difference in our team."

Wade had 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Heat, who "carry that pain with us" from last year, according to forward Chris Bosh.

"We think about it every day and that really helps us to succeed in this series," Bosh said.

James' poor performance was part of the problem then, but he seems on top of his game this time. His 3-pointer sent the Heat to the fourth quarter with the lead, and he scored five straight Miami points when the Heat were building just enough cushion to hold off another late flurry by the Thunder.

"Just trying to make plays," James said. "I told you guys, last year I didn't make enough game-changing plays, and that's what I kind of pride myself on. I didn't do that last year in the finals. I'm just trying to make game-changing plays, and whatever it takes for our team to win, just trying to step up in key moments and be there for my teammates."

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 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 3-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 Big Three.

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.

Gone is the player who seemed so tentative down the stretch last year in his second finals failure. He's constantly on the attack now, all while defending Durant in key situations.

"He was great. He's been great for us all playoffs," Heat forward Udonis Haslem said. "I don't know if he looks up at the clock or score sheet, but he knows when we need him to make big plays and come through for us, and he comes through."

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 10-point lead midway through the third. But Durant had picked up his fourth foul 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 grabbed their last lead at 77-76 on James Harden's basket with 7:32 left. James answered with two free throws about 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 to play.

After another basket by James, the Thunder had one last burst - haven't they always in this series? - ripping off six straight points to get within one before Bosh made a pair of 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 behind the arc. James hit a free throw for a four-point lead with 16 seconds to go and Wade added two to close it out.

"Last year I don't know if we was experienced enough as a unit to deal with what came at us," Wade said. "I just feel like we understand the situations more and we can deal with it better."

The Thunder were just 4 of 18 on 3-pointers and hit only 15 of 24 free throws, unusually awful numbers for one of the league's best offensive teams. Harden, the Sixth Man of the Year, shot 2 of 10 for his nine points. Westbrook finished with 19 points.

After a split of the first two games, the series made its way from Oklahoma City, where fans in blue shirts filled every seat, to Miami, where white shirts hung on empty chairs just minutes before the tip. The late arrivals in Oklahoma City had been the Thunder players, who fell into big early deficits and acknowledged some first-time finals jitters in Game 1. Brooks said he heard the cries to change his starting lineup but said it never crossed his mind.

The Thunder quickly fell behind 10-4 in this one after spotting the Heat a 13-point lead in Game 1 and getting clubbed into an 18-2 hole in the opening minutes of Game 2. They didn't let things get any worse this time, playing the Heat even from there and trailing 26-20 after one. James, Wade and Bosh combined for Miami's first 18 points.

James and Wade had some dazzling drives in the second and Shane Battier got free for a pair of 3-pointers in the final 2 minutes, but the Thunder stayed with them the entire way, briefly holding a three-point lead. Westbrook's 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left cut Miami's lead to 47-46.

Oklahoma City started to take control with a 14-2 run early in the third. Durant had the first four points, and Westbrook fooled the Heat with a fake behind the back pass before sneaking in for a layup. Then Durant leaped over James for a follow dunk before nailing a jumper for a 60-51 lead with 6:55 left in the period.

But it was barely a minute later when he drew his fourth foul. The Thunder pushed the lead to 10 on Derek Fisher's four-point play, but the Heat got right back in it when Battier and then Jones made all six free throws after being fouled behind the arc.

Brooks also pulled Westbrook with 5 minutes left and left him out the remainder of the period, leaving the Thunder without their two best players as they tried to hang onto the lead.

They couldn't.

The Heat scored the final seven of the period, Wade making a turnaround jumper and two free throws before setting up James for a 3-pointer that made it 69-67 headed to the final quarter.

NOTES: Battier had made at least four 3-pointers in three straight games. The last player to make four in four consecutive postseason games was Orlando's Dennis Scott in 1995. ... Brooks, joking Sunday morning about all the calls to change his lineup: "It's hard to take all the advice," he said. "I'm only allowed three bench assistant coaches."

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

Notebook: Heat 91, Thunder 85

Posted Sunday June 17, 2012 11:50PM

By Shandel Richardson, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: The Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 91-85 Sunday in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Heat lead the series 2-1.

Forward LeBron James led Miami with 29 points and 14 rebounds, as the Heat rallied from a 10-point, third-quarter deficit to capture the victory. Guard Dwyane Wade added 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

The Heat won despite shooting just 37 percent from the field, but they made up for the difference at the foul line, making 31 of 35 free throws.

The Thunder were led by Kevin Durant's 25 points and six rebounds.

QUOTABLE: "I think we only shot 30 percent, but we built up some toughness now that we can find different ways to win ... We didn't have a lot of offensive possession in the second half, but we had enough stops, enough timely scores."
-- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra

THE STAT: Free throws made a huge difference in the game. The Heat shot 35 free throws and made 31, while the Thunder attempted only 24, making just 15.

THE STAT II: Oklahoma City is 2-7 this season when held to 90 points or less. ... LeBron's 29 points snaps a streak of five straight games scoring 30+ points. ... The Thunder had a season-low eight assists. ... The Thunder missed 7-plus free throws for the third straight game (they were the No. 1 FT-shooting team in the regular season).

TURNING POINT: Durant picked up his fourth foul with 5:41 left in the third quarter. The Thunder were ahead by six and quickly extended the lead to 10. Once he went to the bench, the Heat were able to grab momentum.

QUOTABLE II: "Well Kevin got four fouls. We fouled too many times. They got to the free throw line 35 times, we got to the free throw line 24 times. We've got to do a better job defending them without fouling."
-- Thunder coach Scott Brooks

HOT: James continues to produce at an MVP-rate. He once again led the Heat in scoring while also doing a solid job on Durant in the fourth quarter. A few more performances as such and the championship-ring jokes stop.

NOT: Chris Bosh was a non-factor for the Heat on the offensive end. He shot just 3 of 12 from the field, but did have 11 rebounds and two blocks. The problem is the load increases on Wade and James when Bosh isn't scoring.

GOOD MOVE: After experimenting with different looks in the previous two games, the Heat put James on Durant in the fourth quarter. This way Spoelstra doesn't have to worry about answering questions why James didn't guard Durant.

BAD MOVE: The Thunder were cruising until that third-quarter foul on Durant. It didn't make things any better when Brooks decided to sit Russell Westbrook moments later. The Heat took full advantage with the Thunder playing without their top two players.

UP NEXT: Game 4 is Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

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

• Thunder: Brooks
• Heat: --

• Lead Changes: 10
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
• Officials: #17 Joe Crawford, #19 James Capers, #41 Ken Mauer
• Attendance: 20003
• Duration: 2:40