A young Oklahoma City Thunder team led by Kevin Durant simply could not keep up with Lebron James and company of the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals. Ironically, the Heat got hot at just the perfect time and paved their way through the Knicks, Pacers, Celtics, and ultimately the Thunder to complete their goal of a championship.
The series began on June 12 in Oklahoma City in accordance with the 2-3-2 home court game format.
In Game One, Kevin Durant led a Thunder victory over the Heat 105-94. His game-high 36 points outmatched Lebron James’ 30. It was close most of the game, but the Thunder took the lead with sixteen seconds remaining and didn’t look back. Russell Westbrook chipped in 27.
Game Two was a different story. The Heat never trailed, and although their 17-point lead was diminished to two with 37 seconds left, Kevin Durant missed the potential game tying shot at the end. Lebron James and Kevin Durant both had 32 for the game.
Game Three was a roller coaster. After ten lead changes and countless runs by both teams, the Heat came out on top for their second straight win. A 47-46 Heat halftime lead was quickly reversed to a 10-point deficit, but they scored eight unanswered points in the fourth, giving them enough cushion to hold off the Thunder. Lebron James virtually dominated with 29 points and 14 rebounds.
The Heat came out of Game Four with their third straight win. A quick 33-19 Thunder lead was erased as a result of rookie Norris Cole’s energy off the bench, and they were able to pull away. Lebron James was unable to finish the end, but a near triple-double with 26 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists combined with his teammates’ contributions was enough to negate Russell Westbrook’s 43-point outing and Kevin Durant’s 28.
The fifth and final game of the 2012 NBA Finals was all business for the Miami Heat. The Thunder were never really close, and the lead swelled to 27 at one point. Lebron James capped off his terrific playoff run with a triple double. He had 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. The Heat also tied an NBA Finals record with 14 three-pointers en route to the franchise’s second championship.
Lebron James won Finals MVP, averaging 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists for the series in what has been called a historic performance on the game’s biggest stage. When asked if he deserved the award, junior Matt Armogan responded, “Of course. He started off the season strong and hardly struggled throughout it. I don’t think anyone could have matched him up.”
The Thunder have absolutely no reason to hang their heads, though. Many people, including junior Devonte Richardson feel they could have beat other teams had they not met the Heat in the Finals. “I felt that if they played any other team with that same performance in the Finals they would’ve won, but down the stretch they didn’t have a better offensive and defensive game to beat the Heat.”
Senior Andreas Chai agreed, adding “They showed a lot of potential that could make them a championship team in the near future. They’re a young team and don’t have the experience of dealing with the pressure, the media, and the hype around the games.”