After Oklahoma City rallied from a two-games-to-none deficit,
eliminating the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals,
the Thunder advanced to the 2012 NBA Finals and a clash with the
Miami Heat. A review of the five-game series:
GAME 1
June 12: Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC
Thunder 105, Heat 94
With 17 fourth-quarter points, Kevin Durant finished with 36.
For the 11th time in 16 playoff games, Oklahoma City scored at
least 100 points. The Thunder rallied from a 13-point,
secondquarter deficit. Miami's Le-Bron James, Dwyane Wade and
Chris Bosh scored a combined total of 59 points.
GAME 2
June 14: Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC
Heat 100, Thunder 96
Less than seven minutes into Game 2, Oklahoma City trailed 18-
2. When Kevin Durant was unable to convert on a late baseline
shot, the Thunder was dealt its first home playoff loss of the
year. LeBron James scored 32 points while Dwyane Wade had a 24-
point, six-rebound, five-assist performance. Heat role player
Shane Battier was 5-of-7 on 3-pointers and scored 17 points.
GAME 3
June 17: American Airlines Arena, Miami
Heat 91, Thunder 85
Midway through the third period, Miami's crowd of 20,003
watched the Thunder surge to a 10-point lead. With less than eight
minutes left to play, OKC had a 77-76 advantage. During the final
90 seconds, the Thunder was scoreless while Miami converted on
five free throws. Miami prevailed in spite of 38 percent shooting
from the field. Through the first three rounds of the playoffs,
OKC connected on 84 percent of its free throws. In Game 3, OKC
misfired on nine foul shots. Through three NBA Finals games, the
Thunder was 54-of-77 for 70 percent. In Game 3, OKC sixth man
James Harden scored nine points on 2-of-10 shooting.
GAME 4
June 19: American Airlines Arena, Miami
Heat 104, Thunder 98
OKC's Russell Westbrook was fantastic, scoring 43 points on 20-
of-32 shooting from the field. He committed only three turnovers -
- and he committed one extremely costly foul. With 13.8 seconds
remaining and the Thunder trailing by three points, Westbrook
fouled Miami's Mario Chalmers when only a couple of seconds were
left on the shot clock. Instead of forcing Chalmers to try a
contested shot, Westbrook sent the former Kansas Jayhawk star to
the foul line. Chalmers converted on both free throws. The Heat
had taken a three-games-to-one advantage in the series.
GAME 5
June 21: American Airlines Arena, Miami
Heat 121, Thunder 106
With 10:13 left in the third period, Oklahoma City trailed by
only 61-56. By the end of the third period, the deficit was 24
points (95-71). The Thunder was finished. After having been the
regular-season MVP, LeBron James was voted the Finals MVP. In Game
5, he had a 26-point, 11-rebound, 13-assist tripledouble. The Heat
celebrated its second title since 2006. "It's unfortunate we
couldn't handle all the things that they were throwing at us, but
they beat us. They beat us fair and square," OKC coach Scott
Brooks said. "They were the better team in this series, and like I
told the guys, there's nothing to be ashamed of."
Durant's quest
Thunder forward Kevin Durant is attempting to become only the
third player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring in as
many as four consecutive seasons. Michael Jordan and Wilt
Chamberlain each had a run of seven consecutive scoring titles -
Jordan in 1986-87 through 1992-93, and Chamberlain in 1959-60
through 1965-66.
As NBA All-Star weekend approaches, a look at how Durant and
teammate Russell Westbrook stand in the current scoring race:
Kevin Durant, OKC: 29.0 average.
Carmelo Anthony, New York: 29.0.
LeBron James, Miami: 27.1.
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers: 27.0.
James Harden, Houston: 26.1.
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland: 23.9.
Russell Westbrook, OKC: 22.5.
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland: 21.2.
Dwyane Wade, Miami: 21.1.
Stephen Curry, Golden State: 21.0.
Thunder players among stat leaders
Free throw percentage
Stephen Curry, Golden State: .907.
Kevin Durant, OKC: .904.
Kevin Martin, OKC: .902.
Darren Collison, Dallas: .898.
J.J. Redick, Orlando: .893.
Assists
Rajon Rondo, Boston: 11.1 per game.
Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers: 9.5.
Greivis Vasquez, New Orleans: 9.4.
Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia: 8.8.
Russell Westbrook, OKC: 8.1.
Blocked shots
Larry Sanders, Milwaukee: 3.16 per game.
Serge Ibaka, OKC: 2.90.
Tim Duncan, San Antonio: 2.70.
Roy Hibbert, Indiana: 2.67.
Dwight Howard, 2.37.
Steals
Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers: 2.60 per game.
Mike Conley, Memphis: 2.25.
Russell Westbrook, OKC: 2.00.
Jeremy Lin, Houston: 1.94.
Monta Ellis, Milwaukee: 1.90.
