Thunder Overcome Early Jitters, Beat Heat in Game 1 of NBA Finals
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ROBYN BECK/AFP/GettyImages(OKLAHOMA CITY) — Many Oklahoma City Thunder players were openly jittery for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, but after a slow start, the Thunder came roaring back and eventually beat the Miami Heat 105-94.
The Thunder struggled early to find their groove. At the 8:18 mark of the second quarter, they fell behind 39-26 on a Chris Bosh jumper, but the team slowly came back, eventually taking the lead at the end of the third quarter, and then dominated the Heat in the fourth.
Thunder forward Kevin Durant led all-scorers with 36 points, including 17 of them in the fourth quarter.
“Those guys (the Heat) came out on fire,” Durant said. “They were passing the ball well…knocking down shots. We just wanted to continue to keep playing. It’s a long game and are coach just kept saying play harder, and that’s what we did.”
Heat forward LeBron James scored 30 points, the most he’s ever scored in a Finals game.
“We will make adjustments,” James said looking forward to Game 2. Like D-Wade said, this is the ‘feel out game.’ Now we get an opportunity to go the chalk board, go to the film…and have a better game plan in Game 2 since we already have seen them.”
Game 2 takes place Thursday in Oklahoma City. Tip-off is at approximately 9 PM ET.
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