HEAT LEADS SERIES 2-1

Robert Stephens - Featured Writer

Miami seeks to gain control tonight.

June 19, 2012 - Kevin Durant scored 17 of his 36 points in the 4th quarter to lead the Oklahoma Thunder to a 105-94
win over the Miami Heat in the first game of the 2012
NBA championship. Durant also finished with eight rebounds.

“Well those guys (Heat), they came out on fire. They were passing the ball well, knocking down shots” said Durant at his post game press conference. We just wanted to continue playing”.

The Heat led 29-22 after the first quarter. Miami at one point led by 13 in the first half and took a 54-47 lead into the locker room in the first half.

The Thunder, one of the youngest teams in the NBA, did not wilt under the pressure of the bright lights.

Mike Westbrook has been mecurial.

“That’s what they (Thunder) do, they keep on coming” Heat coach Eric Spoelstra said at his teams press conference. “They are relentless”.

The Thunder outscored the visitors 58-40 in the second half. Oklahoma City is now 9-0 in post season play at home.

“Honestly, I think we came out with a lot more intensity on the defensive end, made them feel us a little bit” said Russell Westbrook at his team's post game press conference.

Westbrook finished with 27 points, 11 assists,
and eight rebounds. Serge Ibaka chipped in with 10 points.
LeBron James led Miami with 30 points and nine rebounds. Dwayne Wade chipped in with 19 points. Shane Battier provided instant offense with 17 points, 13 in the first half.

GAME TWO

The Miami Heat held off a furious rally by the Oklahoma Thunder and edged the home team 100-96.

“We played too well in the first 36 minutes to try to let this one slip away from us” said LeBron James at his post game press conference.

The Thunder with the loss saw their nine game postseason win streak at home come to an abrupt halt.

“We kept missing good shots.” said Thunder forward Serge Ibaka. “We can do better”.

The Heat led 18-2 with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter.

“That was the game. We can’t start off down 18-2”, Kevin Durant said at his post game press conference. “We can’t go down that much especially at home. We’ve got to correct it”.

The Heat shot 47% from the floor. The Thunder countered shooting 43%. The Heat out rebounded the Thunder 40-36.

“Its been so long since we’ve had them all together”, said Heat forward Shane Battier.

Miami has used 25 different line ups in their 86 games this season. The most frequent line up has been James, Bosh, Chalmers, and Joel Anthony.

LeBron James led the Heat with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists. Dwayne Wade chipped in with 24 points. Chris Bosh had 16 points and 15 rebounds. Shane Battier continued his fine play with 17 points including five three pointers.

Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 32 points. Russell Westbrook chipped in with 27 points, 8 rebounds,
7 assists. James Hardin added 21 points.

The series will now shift to Miami.

GAME THREE

No one said it was going to be easy, as the Miami
Heat edged the Oklahoma Thunder 91-85 to take a 2-1
lead in the NBA's best of seven championship series Sunday.
LeBron James led the Heat with 29 points and
14 rebounds.

"Just trying to make plays", James said at his
post game press conference. "I told you guys (reporters),
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".

Dwayne Wade had 25 points, 7 rebounds, and
seven assists.

LeBron James has been sensational.

The Heat last year were in a similiar position with the Dallas Mavericks, up two to one not winning another game in that series.

"We carry that pain with us", said Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh at his post game press conference. "We think about it every day and that really helps us to succeed in this series".
Bosh had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

In a nip and tuck affair ther Thunder's last lead was 77-76 with 7:32 left in the 4th quarter. The Thunder cut the Heat's lead to one but Bosh made two free throws with 1:19 remaining.

Durant and Westbrook missed their shots and LeBron
hit a free throw with 16 seconds left. Wade closed out the fourth quarter scoring with two points.

Kevin Durant, in foul trouble the second half led the visitors with 25 points.

"It was frustrating," Durant said at his teams post game press conference. "You know I hate sitting on the bench, especially with fouls".

Russell Westbrook added 19 points for the Thunder.

The series resumes Tuesday night in Miami.