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Sizzling Heat strike Thunder to claim crown
Source: Agencies |
June 23, 2012, Saturday
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LEBRON James led an outstanding team effort as the Miami Heat demolished the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106 to claim the National Basketball Association title in Miami on Thursday, the new champions reeling off four straight wins to take the series 4-1.
James enjoyed a brilliant all-round game, posting a triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds and a game-high 13 assists and was named most valuable player of the series as he finally won an NBA crown in his third trip to the finals.
As the clock ran down, James joined in with the deafening celebrations in the AmericanAirlines Arena from the sidelines, jumping and waving as he roared along with the fans with a beaming smile as the seconds ticked away.
"This means everything," he said after handing off the golden NBA Championship trophy to accept the MVP award from Boston Celtics great Bill Russell as confetti rained down from the rafters.
The 27-year-old James was dominant throughout the series but in the Game 5 clincher, he had help from all his cohorts. Six Heat players scored in double figures, including Chris Bosh with 24 and reserve Mike Miller with 23, who went 7-of-8 from beyond the three-point arc in a spectacular display of shooting for the Heat.
Miami's confidence soared as the game went on, as it made a sizzling 14-of-26 three-pointers to tie the record for most long-range baskets in an NBA finals game. The Heat led 31-26 after the first quarter, extended the lead to 10 by halftime and then used a blitz of 16 points in a row in the third quarter to open up a massive 25-point lead that sent the rowdy, standing-room only crowd into early delirium.
Three-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant led the young Thunder team with 32 points with Russell Westbrook and James Harden adding 19 points apiece for the losers.
"It hurts. It hurts, man," said the 23-year-old Durant. "It just hurts to go out like this. We made it to the finals, which was cool for us, but we didn't want to just make it there."
James, three-time league MVP, gave Durant a long embrace as the buzzer sounded to end the game and the series.
"I'd like to congratulate the Miami Heat," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "They did a fantastic job. We ran into a team that was tough to beat tonight."
It was Miami's second NBA title following a 2006 triumph and erased the bitter taste of a six-game defeat by the Dallas Mavericks in last year's Finals.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said coming back to win the title this year was gratifying. "We remember last year, we wanted to make up for last year. We had confidence in what we could do."
James enjoyed a brilliant all-round game, posting a triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds and a game-high 13 assists and was named most valuable player of the series as he finally won an NBA crown in his third trip to the finals.
As the clock ran down, James joined in with the deafening celebrations in the AmericanAirlines Arena from the sidelines, jumping and waving as he roared along with the fans with a beaming smile as the seconds ticked away.
"This means everything," he said after handing off the golden NBA Championship trophy to accept the MVP award from Boston Celtics great Bill Russell as confetti rained down from the rafters.
The 27-year-old James was dominant throughout the series but in the Game 5 clincher, he had help from all his cohorts. Six Heat players scored in double figures, including Chris Bosh with 24 and reserve Mike Miller with 23, who went 7-of-8 from beyond the three-point arc in a spectacular display of shooting for the Heat.
Miami's confidence soared as the game went on, as it made a sizzling 14-of-26 three-pointers to tie the record for most long-range baskets in an NBA finals game. The Heat led 31-26 after the first quarter, extended the lead to 10 by halftime and then used a blitz of 16 points in a row in the third quarter to open up a massive 25-point lead that sent the rowdy, standing-room only crowd into early delirium.
Three-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant led the young Thunder team with 32 points with Russell Westbrook and James Harden adding 19 points apiece for the losers.
"It hurts. It hurts, man," said the 23-year-old Durant. "It just hurts to go out like this. We made it to the finals, which was cool for us, but we didn't want to just make it there."
James, three-time league MVP, gave Durant a long embrace as the buzzer sounded to end the game and the series.
"I'd like to congratulate the Miami Heat," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "They did a fantastic job. We ran into a team that was tough to beat tonight."
It was Miami's second NBA title following a 2006 triumph and erased the bitter taste of a six-game defeat by the Dallas Mavericks in last year's Finals.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said coming back to win the title this year was gratifying. "We remember last year, we wanted to make up for last year. We had confidence in what we could do."
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