Heat vs. Thunder: Miami Edges out Oklahoma City in Potential Finals Preview
On a night where MVP candidates played like MVPs (for the most part), LeBron James got the best of Kevin Durant and his red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder.
James finished with 34 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, and Durant scored 30 while shooting 11-21.
Neither was able to make the big shot in the game's last minute, though. James failed to put Miami up by five on a mid-range jumper, and Durant's subsequent three-point attempt to tie the game wasn't close.
The story of the night, however, was the Thunder's dysfunctional half-court offense. Miami's length and quickness bothered Oklahoma City all night, and the turnover-prone Thunder gave it away 18 times. The Heat were more than happy to capitalize and took control of the game with its superlative fast-breaks.
Russell Westbrook chipped in 28 for the Thunder, but he struggled to finish around the basket and wound up shooting just 9-26. Even worse, the Thunder's second option turned the ball over four times while only tallying two assists all evening.
Meanwhile, Chris Bosh struggled early in the game, starting 1-7 from the field, but he came alive in the third quarter and hit a crucial jumper from the top of the key late in the fourth. Dwyane Wade played well despite a sore knee, scoring 18 on 7-18 shooting.
The Heat followed up a tight win over Philadelphia to take its 17th straight home win. Despite a mixed performance in March, Miami remains nearly impossible to beat on the home-court. The West-leading Thunder suffered a second consecutive loss for only the second time all year.
Miami will next host Memphis (who beat the Thunder on Monday), and the Thunder will travel to Indiana for a tough game against the much-improved Pacers.
