Miami's LeBron James, right, is guarded by Oklahoma City's Thabo Sefolosha during the first half at Game 2 of the NBA finals on Thursday night.
Jeff Roberson/The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITYâ€"A make here, a miss there. A non-call at one end, a lucky bailout basket at the other.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat are so equally matched, there will always be just a handful of plays that separate winners from losers in every game and it’s a fact that could turn the NBA Finals into an epic series.
The Heat made just enough plays â€" some lucky and many, many more good â€" and survived an unlikely miss from Kevin Durant to register a 100-96 victory before a stunned crowd of 18,203 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena here Thursday, tying the best of seven series at a game apiece.
A dramatic and thrilling finish â€" the game in doubt until fewer than 10 seconds remained â€" capped an electric night as the relentless Thunder fought back from a 17-point deficit.
Durant, who fought foul trouble for some of the night, missed a potential game-tying shot with less than 10 seconds left and the Thunder down two, about 90 seconds after LeBron James had made an improbable 18-foot bank shot that had seemingly sealed the game.
“This is going to be probably like this every single game and that’s the beauty of competition at this level and embracing that competition and seeing what it brings out of you collectively,†said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. “We were able to play a little bit more to our disposition and to our identity a bit more consistently tonight and that was probably the biggest factor.â€
That, and the vagaries of a game that often turns on a make or a miss, regardless of will, disposition, nastiness or whatever.
When Durant had his shot to tie the game â€" about seven feet along the baseline to the left of the basket â€" there wasn’t a soul in the arena who didn’t think he’d make it.
But despite a 32-point night, he did miss and James iced the game with a couple of free throws.
There was a flurry of discussion that perhaps Durant had been fouled on the play, the Thunder were having none of it.
“That’s one play,†said coach Scott Brooks. “I’m not going to get into that, I haven’t in the past and I’m not going to start doing it now.
“It was a play, he didn’t get the call. The bottom line is we play aggressive basketball, we play tough basketball and didn’t do that to start the game.
“That last minute? I won’t even look at that.â€
Using an electric small lineup featuring guards Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Derek Fisher for a long stretch of the fourth quarter, the unrelenting Thunder managed to get themselves back in a game they were far out of.
Miami, far more efficient on offence with Chris Bosh back in his normal starting role and Wade far more aggressive, had built a lead as big as 17 early in the second half and were up by 11 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Thunder cut the lead to three with about 90 seconds left but James, who had been frustrated in the defence of Oklahoma City’s Thabo Sefolosha, banked in a mid-range jumper to give the Heat some breathing room.
“It was a broken play at the end of the possession,†said Spoelstra. “He did what great players do, they create something out of nothing and he was able to get it over the top and bank it in.â€
The Thunder were fighting from behind all night, missing 11 of their first 14 shots and falling behind by as many as 17. And while they were able to dig out of a 13-point deficit in Game 1, they didn’t have the same magic Thursday night.
“We gave them too many easy shots,†Brooks said of the sluggish start. “When you miss shots, that’s part of the game, but you can’t go back on the other end and give them too many easy shots.â€
The Heat also got a big boost from Bosh, who was finally re-inserted to the starting lineup.
Bosh had a double-double (10 points and 10 rebounds) in 19 first half minutes, looking far more comfortable than he had been coming off the bench.
He finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds, providing some much needed good interior defence.
The series now shifts to Miami for Games 3, 4, 5 starting Sunday.
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