Miami Evens Series At 1
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The Miami Heat learned their lesson following a Game 1 loss – if they want to have a chance to win the championship, they must fight until the final buzzer.
The Miami Heat evened the series with the Oklahoma City Thunder after a 100-96 win on Thursday. The series is now tied 1-1 and is headed to Miami for the next three games.
The beginning of the game seemed like deja vu as the Heat went on a run only allowing the Thunder to score 2 points, for the second straight game. The Thunder began the game shooting 1-for-12 as they fell behind 18-2. At the end of the first quarter, the Heat had a 27-15 lead that they never gave up.
“”They played attack basketball and got us on our heels. We have to play better from the very start,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “We missed shots and gave them too many easy shots. They have three great players and all three had great games.”
The Heat’s big three combined for 69 points in a collective effort that remained dominant throughout the entire game. James scored 32 points with eight rebounds and was a perfect 12-for-12 in free throw shooting, including two with 7 seconds left in the game to give the Heat a 4 point lead.
Dwayne Wade improved from Game 1 with 24 points and Chris Bosh had a double-double with
16 points and 15 rebounds. Bosh got to start the game tonight after playing off the bench in Game 1.
“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, ” said Heat coach Eric Spoelstra. “He gave us a lot in the paint and we need that again and again and again.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder played hard despite a disappointing first quarter. Kevin Durant scored 32 points after being in foul trouble for the entire game. Point guard Russell Westbrook finished with 27 points and 7 assists, his lowest in the series. James Harden kept the Thunder in the game during the first half with 17 points. He finished the game with 21 points.
The Thunder played hard throughout the entire game, but the 12 point deficit left after the first quarter was something the team couldn’t overcome.
” “We can’t start off 18 and 2. We can’t get down that much especially at home we gotta correct it,” said Thunder forward Kevin Durant, who started the game 1-for-6 before his explosive second half effort.
With the loss, the Thunder suffer their first home loss of the postseason. The Heat hope to take control of the series as they head to Miami on Sunday. Tip off for Game 3 is at 7 p.m.
