Live Blog: Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder in Possible NBA Finals Preview
At long last, the matchup of two of the league's best teams from each conference is upon us.
At 8 p.m., we will be entertained with a contest between the 36-12 Oklahoma City Thunder and the visiting 35-11 Miami Heat. This is the first of two meetings between the powerhouses. They split their two meetings last year, with each team winning on the road.
The Heat come in riding a four game win streak with their most recent triumph coming by way of an 88-73 pounding given to the Detroit Pistons. They had won at Philadelphia before winning games back home against Orlando and Phoenix. This winning streak comes after starting 4-4 in their first eight games after the All-Star break.
The Thunder have won their past two games with a rousing 149-140 double-overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves being their latest victory. Even though they gave up 51 points to Kevin Love, they managed to overcome with 45 points from Russell Westbrook, 40 points and some timely buckets from Kevin Durant and 25 points off the bench from James Harden.
They had beaten the Los Angeles Clippers by 23 two nights before. This game against the Heat concludes a three-game home stand.
Durant leads the team in scoring at 28 points per game. He is on an MVP-pace averaging eight rebounds and four assists, while shooting 50 percent from the field and and 37 percent from deep. Westbrook leads the team in assists at five per game, while dropping 24 points a contest. Harden is coming off the bench to average 17 points per game.
Serge Ibaka currently leads the league in blocks per game at over three. He and Kendrick Perkins will need to play a significant part in deterring Dwyane Wade and LeBron James on their drives to the basket.
James has kept up his bid for a third MVP with averages of 27 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals per game. He's shooting 54 percent from the field and 38 percent from deep. Wade is chipping in 23 points per game on 51 percent shooting, while Chris Bosh tallies on 18 points to go along with eight boards per game.
Udonis Haslem is averaging six boards and eight boards off the bench, and has managed to rid himself of his offensive woes. He's finally beginning to hit the jump shot that had been so consistent for his entire career.
As far as injuries go, the Thunder will be without Daequan Cook and Eric Maynor. The Heat will continue to play without Mike Miller. The Heat's Terrel Harris is inactive.
Both teams also sport new additions with the Thunder adding point guard Derek Fisher and the Heat sporting power forward-center Ronny Turiaf.
Referees for tonight will be Mike Callahan, Kevin Fehr and Kane Fitzgerald.
