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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Durant, Westbrook propel Thunder past Heat in Game 1 - USA TODAY

OKLAHOMA CITY - Nerves because of their first NBA finals or rust because of their five-day layoff, the Oklahoma City Thunder started slowly in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

  • Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives past Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the third quarter of Game 1 in the NBA Finals on Tuesday.

    By Derick E. Hingle, US Presswire

    Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives past Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the third quarter of Game 1 in the NBA Finals on Tuesday.

By Derick E. Hingle, US Presswire

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives past Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the third quarter of Game 1 in the NBA Finals on Tuesday.

Then, they settled into the rhythm that suffocated the San Antonio Spurs in the final four games of the Western Conference finals.

The Thunder dismissed a 13-point first-half deficit and defeated the Miami 105-94, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. Game 2 is Thursday in Oklahoma City (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).

For historical perspective, Game 1 winners are 21-7 in the Finals since 1984. However, Miami won Game 1 last season and lost the series to the Dallas Mavericks.

The Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook combination wore down the Heat with their quickness and shot-making in the second half.

Westbrook started slowly, making just two of his first nine shots. He has struggled the past two seasons against the Heat, but he found his game in second half. He had 27 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, and Durant had a game-high 36 points and eight rebounds.

Oklahoma City had trouble stopping forward LeBron James' drives to the rim. He had a career-best points in a Finals game with 30 - but just a few points in the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma City limited guard Dwyane Wade (19 points on 7-for-19 shooting) and forward Chris Bosh, who came off the bench for the fourth consecutive game.

The Heat wasted forward Shane Battier's 17 points (12 on three-pointers) and received little production from their bench. Bosh (10 points) was the only reserve who scored.

Oklahoma City's bench had a decent effort. But points didn't come from whom you would expect. Sixth Man of the Year James Harden had just five points, however, forward Nick Collison provided an invaluable 10 rebounds and four points.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra made a tactical decision in Game 1. For much of the game, he had James defend someone other than Durant. It allowed James to conserve energy and stay out of potential foul trouble.

It was a gamble. James is Miami's best defender, but Spoelstra decided to let others guard Durant for long stretches.

Miami's ball movement in the first quarter had Oklahoma City scrambling to defend, especially open shooters at the three-point line. The Heat had a 39-26 lead with 8:19 left in the second quarter.

The Thunder got back in the game the way they like to play - with easy bucks in transition. Oklahoma City outscored Miami on fastbreak points and in points in the paint.

It was a significant part of Oklahoma City's game that worried Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

"The transition is a major key," Spoelstra said. "It's easier said than done, and they're saying the same thing about because we generate a lot of our offense from steals and those long rebounds; they do the same thing; they have great length; great athleticism; when they are able to turn you over, forget about it."

They took their first lead of the game, 74-73, on Westbrook's driving layup and free throw. Oklahoma City dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Heat 31-21.

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