Miami seals NBA title in five

Updated June 22, 2012 15:14:56

Miami Heat forward LeBron James realised his dream by leading his team to the NBA championship on Friday (AEST) and the man nicknamed 'King James' completed his coronation with the series most valuable player award.

James, who also picked up the regular season MVP honour for the third time in his career, led the Heat to a 4-1 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the best-of-seven championship series that was capped off by a 121-106 victory.

The dominant player throughout the series, James scored 26 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and doled out a game-high 13 assists in a brilliant all-round effort in the finale.

For Oklahoma, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 51 points, but it was nowhere near enough, as Miami clinched the game and the title with a 36-22 third quarter.

The Thunder tried to come back in the final quarter, but could only claw back nine points on the Heat.

"This means everything," the 27-year-old James said after being presented with the MVP trophy by Celtics great Bill Russell.

"It's a dream come true."

James, who averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists in the series, won his first NBA ring on his third trip to the finals.

His Cleveland Cavaliers were swept in four games in 2007 by the San Antonio Spurs, and the Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks in six games last season.

It was the first NBA title for Miami since the 2005-2006 season, when the team beat the Dallas Mavericks four games to two.

"Losing the finals last year put me back in place, it humbled me a lot," said James.

"Today is the happiest day of my life."

Reuters/ABC

Tags: sport, basketball, united-states

First posted June 22, 2012 14:11:14

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Durant leads Thunder over Miami in Finals opener

Updated June 13, 2012 14:56:34

Kevin Durant won the opening round of his highly anticipated duel with LeBron James, scoring 36 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 105-94 victory over the Miami Heat in the opening game of the NBA Finals on Wednesday (AEST).

Durant, the NBA scoring champion, hit 12-of-20 shots and added eight rebounds to help the Western Conference champions overcome a seven-point half-time deficit.

Point guard Russell Westbrook scored 27 points, and had eight rebounds and 11 assists for Oklahoma City.

Three-time MVP James scored 30 points on 11-of-24 shooting, while adding nine rebounds, but it was Durant who triggered the Thunder's 18-point turnaround in the second half.

Durant's tussle with James is widely regarded as a barometer for determining the NBA's best player, with both also seeking a first championship.

"Everybody has to come to play," said Durant, who had 17 points in the fourth quarter on six-of-10 shooting.

"Everybody played hard in the second half. We stuck together."

Speaking of his play in the final quarter, Durant said: "I'm just playing off my team-mates. I'm not trying to force anything, I just take what the defense gives me."

Miami led by as many as 13 in the opening half but fell apart in the third quarter, and when Westbrook made a three-point play late in the period to give the Thunder their first lead at 74-73, the stadium erupted.

"I thought we showed a lot of toughness in the second half," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.

"KD (Durant) is a terrific player, a terrific scorer," he added.

"But he's a special player because he defends. We're a defensive team."

Oklahoma City held a 43-35 advantage in rebounds after losing the first-half battle on the glass 20-17.

The Heat's big first half was the result of a combination of hot shooting from beyond the arc and inconsistent play by the Thunder, who committed eight turnovers.

But the Thunder, playing in their first championship since relocating from Seattle in 2008, opened the second half on a 13-6 run to tie the score at 60-60 with just under seven minutes left in the third quarter.

Reuters

Tags: basketball, sport, united-states

First posted June 13, 2012 13:43:49

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Miami one win away from title

Updated June 20, 2012 14:13:55

Russell Westbrook scored 43 points in game four of the NBA finals but it was not enough for Oklahoma City Thunder as the Miami Heat won 104-98 to sit one game away from the title.

Oklahoma outscored Miami by 33-19 in the opening quarter and looked set to even the series, but the Heat fought back with strong second and third quarters to set up a tense finale.

For Miami LeBron James, after going to the bench late in the fourth quarter with an injury to his left leg, returned to hit a key three-pointer that snapped a 94-94 tie and Dwyane Wade followed with a bold drive to the hoop to put Miami five points ahead.

James, who watched the end of the game from the bench, led the Heat with 26 points, while Wade and Mario Chalmers, who led the fourth-quarter charge, added 25 points each.

Russell Westbrook shot 20/32 from the floor to keep the Thunder in the game, while Kevin Durant added 28.

Miami can clinch its second NBA title since 2006 in game five at home on Friday (AEST).

ABC / REUTERS

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First posted June 20, 2012 13:58:21

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Miami beats Oklahoma City to take 2-1 lead

Updated June 18, 2012 13:58:22

Miami Heat held off Oklahoma City Thunder after a scintillating fourth-quarter battle to claim a 91-85 game three victory and seize a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven National Basketball Association finals on Monday (AEST).

LeBron James led the scoring with 29 points and sank the second of two free throws with 16.2 seconds left to give Miami a four-point lead.

After the Thunder's Thabo Sefalosha threw away an inbounds pass Dwyane Wade then sank two more free throws to cap the win.

Both teams played ferocious defense down the stretch, and the Heat had to overcome nine turnovers in the fourth quarter to retain home court advantage with the next two games in Miami.

James, the NBA's Most Valuable Player, said it was hard to get good shots.

"Both teams are very active defensively," he said in an on-court interview.

"Both teams make it hard on one another to get shots.

"When you get stops you try to get early offense. It always helps. We were able to do that a little bit tonight."

Miami surged to an 86-79 lead with just over two minutes to go but the Thunder hit back with six points in a row, turning game three into a cliffhanger at 86-85 with 90 seconds left.

Miami's Chris Bosh made a pair of free throws to make it a three-point game before James and Wade finished off Oklahoma for good with free throws after being fouled.

James shot 11-of-23 from the floor, despite doing virtually all his damage from inside, and hauled down a game-high 14 rebounds.

Wade contributed 25 points for Miami, with Bosh the next highest for the Heat with 10.

Kevin Durant, who flirted with foul trouble in the second half, led Oklahoma City with 25 points and Russell Westbrook added 19.

Game four of the championship series will be played in Miami on Wednesday (AEST).

Reuters

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First posted June 18, 2012 13:20:47

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Miami makes NBA finals

Published:Friday, May 27, 2011 7:24 AESTExpires:Thursday, August 25, 2011 7:24 AEST

Lebron James has led the Miami Heat to a 83-80 victory against the Chicago Bulls to make the National Basketbal Association finals.

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Tags: basketball, united-states

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Bosh shoots over Noah in Miami

Published:Monday, May 23, 2011 3:26 AEST

Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat attempts a shot over Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals in Miami on May 22, 2011.

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