Thunder-Heat Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Dec 25 2012 12:04AM

While fans across the country are looking forward to this rematch of last season's NBA Finals, LeBron James and Kevin Durant downplayed its significance.

Both are simply focused on leading their respective team to victory.

There figures to be plenty of fireworks Christmas Day as the defending champion Miami Heat and NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder square off in South Beach.

After dropping Game 1 of the Finals, Miami (18-6) took four straight from Oklahoma City (21-5) to win the second title in franchise history. Though many are eager to see how the Heat and Thunder stack up this season, neither team is buying into the hype.

"We wanna play well and that's all that matters," James said. "We don't look at it (like) 'let's see where we're at' or how it's gonna define our season. We wanna play well, we wanna win, and that's our main objective."

Durant, who's averaged 31.3 points in leading the Thunder to four wins in six regular-season matchups in this series, shared the same sentiment.

"It's so long ago," he said of facing Miami in the finals. "Of course, I learned a lot since then. But to be honest, it's just another game on the schedule. I gotta come and show up for my team, be a leader on the court for my team, that's all I'm worried about."

Third in the league with 27.9 points per game, Durant has had to take on even more of a leadership role after the team shipped James Harden to Houston just days before the season started. Durant is posting career highs in almost every statistical category, including field-goal percentage (52.1), rebounds (8.4) and assists (4.2).

Russell Westbrook has also stepped up with 8.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game - both career bests.

"They're two of the best players in the league. You don't even have to put them at their respective positions, they're just two of the best," James said.

The Thunder put together 12 straight wins before a 99-93 loss at Minnesota on Thursday. Durant had 33 points while Westbrook scored 30 to go along with 11 rebounds and nine assists for Oklahoma City, which was handed its first loss since Nov. 23 at Boston.

"It's not the end of the world... We're 21-5 and we've just got to go back and work," Durant said.

"That's what happens in this league. Any given night you can lose. It's a great lesson for us... We wanna win this next one."

Miami has picked up the pace since falling 97-95 to Golden State on Dec. 12, winning four straight while holding opponents to an average of 87.0 points - 10.4 less than its season mark. James had 30 points, nine boards and seven assists and Dwyane Wade scored 21 in Saturday's 105-89 victory over Utah.

James, who's scored at least 20 in every game this season to match the longest run to start a year since Karl Malone in 1989-90, has also gone six straight games without committing a personal foul.

"He's been activating our defense," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "And when you have his type of athletic, God-given ability and you add that to his mind and then the preparation, he can be one or two steps ahead of the play - which allows him to be a playmaker defensively."

The Heat are 6-2 all-time on Christmas Day. Oklahoma City is 2-11 in such games - including an 0-9 road record.

"The last time we weren't playing on Christmas, we were a bad basketball team," Spoelstra said. "So the holiday games are fun, but at the same time, we understand who's coming to town. We think we've been tightening up our game a little bit, (those) guys are playing at an elite level, so we're looking forward to the matchup."

Miami is expected to get Chris Bosh back after he sat out Saturday with a cold. Oklahoma City's Kevin Martin could also return from a right thigh contusion.

James leads Heat over Thunder in Finals rematch

By TIM REYNOLDS
Posted Dec 26 2012 4:12AM

MIAMI (AP) Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined to score 54 points, more than any set of teammates had managed in a game against Miami all season.

Oklahoma City needed them to score at least three more.

That didn't happen, and an NBA Finals rematch went just as last year's title series did - to the Heat.

LeBron James had 29 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, Dwyane Wade scored 21, and the Heat survived a frantic finish to beat the Thunder 103-97 on Tuesday night, a game where Durant and Westbrook both missed potential tying 3-pointers in the final seconds.

"A great game to play," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said, "and a great game to coach."

For the Heat, it was just a little greater.

Mario Chalmers scored a season-high 20 for the Heat, who were 19 for 19 from the foul line, the second-best effort in franchise history behind only a 30-for-30 game in Boston on March 24, 1993. Chris Bosh added 16 points for Miami, which has beaten the Thunder five straight times dating to last June's title series.

"Felt a little bit like a different month," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Regardless of what your script is coming into the game, when you play this team, it's not going to go according to script. They're too good."

It's the first losing streak of the season for the Thunder, who had been 4-0 after losses. Serge Ibaka and Kevin Martin each scored 15 for Oklahoma City.

The game had a little of everything - a fast start by the reigning champions, a one-handed dunk by James on an offensive rebound that will be added to his copious highlight reel, a scrum after a hard foul that led to double-technicals on Wade and Ibaka early in the fourth, an easy rally by the Thunder from an early double-digit deficit, and even workout partners in Durant and James barking back and forth in the final minutes.

Such was the intensity that James slumped over the scorer's table with 1:08 left, exhausted.

"I'm tired as hell right now," James said - and that was more than an hour after the game ended.

With good reason. On an emotional day, there was a wild finish.

Wade lost the ball on an ill-advised, behind-the-back dribble, and the turnover set up Durant for a two-handed dunk that got the Thunder within 96-95 with 44.1 seconds remaining.

Needing a stop on the next trip, the Thunder instead forgot to play defense. Kendrick Perkins and Ibaka both were confused on the ensuing Miami possession, and Bosh was left alone to take a pass from James and throw down a dunk that restored Miami's three-point edge.

"We went over and helped," Durant said. "We just needed to help on the backside. There was miscommunication but we still had a chance to go into overtime."

Two chances, actually.

Oklahoma City got within one when Durant made a jumper over James, but no closer. Ray Allen's two free throws with 15.6 seconds left made it 100-97, and Miami's last three points came from the line. Durant missed a 3-pointer that James contested, Westbrook wound up with a second chance that Wade defended, and the Thunder guard smacked a nearby table arguing that he was fouled.

"Part of the game," Westbrook said.

While the stars were stars, the Heat got help from one unexpected source. Chalmers was making everything, even unintended plays. Allen lost possession on what looked to be a pass to no one, but Chalmers picked up the bouncing ball on the right wing, whirled and made a 3-pointer - putting Miami up 86-79 with 8:14 left.

In the end, that cushion was necessary.

"I got going early," Chalmers said, "and I stuck with it."

The Heat came out flying, opening a quick 13-2 lead after making six of their first seven shots. About all that didn't go right for the Heat early on was James committing a foul, the first time he was called for a personal since Dec. 8.

It happened 4:03 into the game - 254 minutes and 7 seconds of on-court time since his last one - when James fouled Ibaka on a dunk attempt.

Chalmers had 12 points, matching his season high, in the opening quarter alone, and that was also Miami's lead after his layup for a 15-3 edge. When Durant headed to the bench after being called for his second personal, plus a technical, with 2:08 left in the first, the Heat led 27-16.

But even with Durant out, Oklahoma City scored the last eight points of the quarter, six coming from the line. The Thunder shot 17 of the game's first 18 free throws and finished with a 38-19 edge in tries from the stripe.

The Heat were held to two points in the first 5:05 of the third, and the Thunder grabbed the lead for the first time. Durant connected on a baseline jumper while falling out of bounds and getting fouled by James. The resulting free throw gave Oklahoma City a 58-56 edge.

With that, the back-and-forth began, and Miami found a way.

"Both teams really played up to the billing," Wade said. "An excellent basketball game."

NOTES: James scored at least 20 points for the 30th straight regular-season game and 46th overall. ... Wade is 7-1 on Christmas, and James has won six straight on the holiday. ... Miami's Mike Miller became the 48th active player to reach 10,000 points. ... The Thunder have used the same starting lineup for all 27 games. ... James passed Bernard King for 39th on the NBA career scoring list. ... Attendance was 20,300, the largest crowd for a Heat home game since they moved into AmericanAirlines Arena.

Notebook: Heat 103, Thunder 97

Zachary Paul, for NBA.com
Posted Tue Dec 25, 2012 11:06 PM - Updated Tue Dec 25, 2012 11:06 PM

THE FACTS: The Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-97 Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

LeBron James scored 29 points to lead the Heat while guard Mario Chalmers finished with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. Guard Dwyane Wade also had 21 points and five rebounds.

The Heat were able to outlast the Thunder despite 33 points from forward Kevin Durant, who missed a 3-pointer in the closing seconds that would have tied the game. It was the Heat's sixth straight victory against the Thunder, dating to last season.

The rematch of last year's NBA Finals was everything as expected, with both marquee players turning in solid performances. James also finished with nine assists and eight assists, falling just short of his second triple-double of the season.

James' biggest assist came when he found center Chris Bosh under the basket for an easy dunk that gave the Heat a three-point lead with 25.4 seconds remaining.

QUOTABLE: "Regardless of what our script is coming into the game when you play this team, it is not going to go according to script. They are too good. They make great players and keep on coming at you. At the end of the day, you just have to find a way. It wasn't our best fourth-quarter execution but we have been there enough now and it is just about making winning plays."
--Heat coach Erik Spolestra

THE STAT: The Heat held the Thunder to 42 percent shooting.

TURNING POINT: When Chalmers scored five straight points early in the fourth quarter, it allowed the Heat have some sort of breathing room. The seven-point lead was all the separation the Heat needed.

QUOTABLE II: "It was on line. To be honest, I practice those off-balance shots all the time, especially from that deep. It looked good."
-- Kevin Durant on missed 3-pointer near end of game

HOT: This was a game Chalmers needed. He had been struggling with his shot most of the season. After knocking down a few early shots, it did wonders for his confidence.

NOT: Russell Westbrook shot just 5-for-19 from the field. He was almost a non-factor and was outplayed by Chalmers. The Thunder likely win if Westbrook doesn't have a subpar game.

GOOD MOVE: The Heat did a solid job of taking advantage of what the Thunder gave them defensively. James and Wade were both able pass out of double teams to find the open Chalmers.

BAD MOVE: The early foul trouble hurt Durant. When he picked up his fourth near the end of the third quarter, it somewhat affected his aggression on the offensive end.

NOTABLE: Mike Miller surpassed 10,000 career points. He now has 10,005. James scored at least 20 points for the 25th straight time. The Heat improved to 14-2 at home. James committed his first foul after going the previous six game without one.

UP NEXT: For the Heat, Wednesday @ Charlotte, Friday @ Detroit, Saturday @ Milwaukee. For the Thunder, Thursday vs. Dallas, Saturday @ Houston, Monday vs. Phoenix.

• Thunder: Orton
• Heat: Harrellson, Harris

• Thunder: Durant, Ibaka, Westbrook
• Heat: James, Wade

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 9

• Arena: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
• Officials: #13 Monty McCutchen, #6 Tony Brown, #30 John Goble
• Attendance: 20300
• Duration: 2:47