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Heat (barely) holds on
Photo
Miami Heat power forward Chris Bosh dunks the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka defends during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Thursday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. Bosh, who was back in the starting lineup for the first time since returning from an abdominal injury, scored 16 points, to help lift the Heat over the Thunder, 100-96, and tie the series 1-1.
Trailing by 13 in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma City made it interesting
Associated Press
oklahoma city
LeBron James asked for help, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh provided it.
The Miami Heat finally rediscovered the formula to winning in the NBA Finals — barely.
James scored 32 points, Wade rebounded from a poor opener with 24 and the Heat built a huge early lead before holding off a furious fourth-quarter rally behind their three All-Stars to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 100-96 on Thursday night to tie the series at one game apiece.
Bosh had 16 points and 15 rebounds in his return to the starting lineup for the Heat, who snapped a four-game finals losing streak with their first victory since Game 3 against Dallas last year.
Now they go home to host Game 3 on Sunday and the next two after that, knowing they don’t have to hear the noisy Thunder fans again — not to mention all their critics — if they win all three.
Kevin Durant scored 32 points for the Thunder, but missed a shot after appearing to be bumped with James that would have tied a game the Thunder trailed the entire way. Russell Westbrook finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, but shot 10 of 25 from the field.
James Harden tried to keep the Thunder in it early and finished with 21 points, but this time the Thunder couldn’t come back from a double-digit deficit after spotting Miami a 17-point advantage during their worst first half of the season.