Could the Thunder go a perfect 12-0 at home this postseason? With Tuesday night’s comeback and Durant’s incredible fourth quarter against the Miami Heat, the Thunder are still on course to run the table at home in the NBA playoffs.
Despite carrying a 7 point lead into the half (buoyed by a hot-shooting Shane Battier), the Miami Heat simply could not overcome Loud City’s home crowd and the boost it gave to the athletic Thunder. OKC exploded in the fourth quarter, scoring 31 points to just 21 for Miami. Kevin Durant simply outplayed LeBron James down the stretch (though not by much) – scoring 36 points on 12-20 shooting to go along with 8 rebounds and 4 assists. LeBron was no slouch, scoring 30 points on 11-24 shooting, but shot just 2 for 6 in the fourth – while Durant shot 6 for 10. Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade provided little help to LeBron, however, shooting a combined 11 for 30.
Winning Game 1 in the Finals is huge. Teams which win Game 1 go on to win the series 72% of the time, and the Heat are going to have to fight hard to take Game 2 in OKC. Will LeBron James and Dwayne Wade find a way to out-intangible the young Thunder, who seem simply unstoppable at home?
Game 2 looms large on Thursday.
