By Ron Griffitts
Contributing columnist
In June 2012, the Miami Warmth (46-20) coached by Erik Spoelstra with Pat Riley as normal supervisor met the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (47-19) with Scott Brooks as coach and Sam Presti as normal supervisor.
For the Thunder, it was the primary finals look of their historical past they usually defeated the Dallas Mavericks (4-2), the Los Angeles Lakers (4-1) and the San Antonio Spurs (4-2) to have the appropriate to signify the Western Convention within the championship collection.
They have been led by Kevin Durant (28.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg), Russell Westbrook (23.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 5.5 apg), James Harden (16.8 ppg), Serge Ibaba (7.5 rpg) and Kendrick Perkins (6.6 rpg).
The defending Japanese Convention champion Warmth received previous the New York Knicks (4-1), the Indiana Pacers (4-2) and the Boston Celtics (4-3) to get to the Finals and have been led by LeBron James (27.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 6.2 apg), Dwayne Wade (22.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.6 apg), Chris Bosh (18.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg) and Udonis Haslem (7.3 rpg)
Sport one was the primary finals playoff sport ever in Oklahoma Metropolis. Taking part in within the Chesapeake Vitality Enviornment, the Warmth received off to begin main 29-22 after the primary quarter. However, the Thunder took over the sport within the second quarter and outscored Miami 83-65 in the remainder of the sport for a 105-94 win.
Kevin Durant made 12 of 20 area objective makes an attempt for 36 factors and had 8 rebounds whereas Russell Westbrook had 27 factors and 11 assists. LeBron James led the Warmth with 30 factors and 9 rebounds and Oklahoma Metropolis had a 1-0 lead within the collection.
In sport two, the Warmth once more had first quarter, main 27-15 however on this sport held off the Thunder who outscored Miami 29-22 within the fourth quarter, for a 100-96 win to even the collection at 1-1.
LeBron James led Miami with 32 factors and eight rebounds whereas Dwayne Wade contributed 24 factors and Chris Bosh pulled down 15 rebounds. Kevin Durant led Oklahoma Metropolis with 32 factors, Russell Westbrook had 27 and James Harden had 21 factors.
For sport three, the 2 groups switched to American Airways Enviornment in Miami the place Miami once more received off to a primary quarter lead, 28-20 and in an in depth sport held on for a 91-85 win to take a 2-1 lead over the Thunder.
LeBron James once more led Miami with 29 factors and 14 rebounds whereas Dwayne Wade added 25 factors and Chris Bosh had 11 rebounds. Kevin Durant had 25 factors and Kendrick Perkins 12 rebounds for Oklahoma Metropolis.
In sport 4, the Thunder received out to a 33-19 lead within the first quarter however have been outscored in every of the succeeding quarters as Miami pulled out their third straight win, 104-96, for a 3 video games to at least one lead within the collection.
LeBron James led the Warmth with 26 factors, 9 rebounds and 12 assists whereas Mario Chambers and Dwayne Wade added 25 factors every. Russell Westbrook had a collection excessive 43 factors and Kevin Durant had 28 for Oklahoma Metropolis.
Nonetheless in Miami, the Warmth coasted to a 95-71 lead after three quarters. Regardless that Oklahoma Metropolis outscored them 35-26 within the fourth quarter, they received the sport and the NBA title with a 121-106 win.
Taking part in in his third NBA closing, LeBron James received his first NBA title and first collection MVP award.
He had 26 factors, 11 rebounds and 13 assists for the sport as Dwayne Wade added 20 and Chris Bosh had 24 factors. Kevin Durant had 32 factors and 11 rebounds whereas Russell Westbrook and James Harden each had 19 factors for the Thunder.
The Warmth returned the subsequent yr to the NBA finals however Oklahoma Metropolis has not been again to the finals.
Durant, Westbrook and Harden all left Oklahoma Metropolis and starred for different groups and all three received NBA MVP awards. It’s a must to marvel what sort of success the workforce would have had if all of them stayed in Oklahoma Metropolis.
Statistics for this text have been from basketball-reference.com
Originally posted 2023-05-12 15:56:00.