NBA

Thunder crash again in rematch

— LeBron James finished with 29 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds, Dwyane Wade scored 21, and the Miami Heat survived a frantic finish to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-97 in an NBA Finals rematch Tuesday.

Mario Chalmers scored a season-high 20 for the Heat, who matched the franchise’s best 25-game start at 19-6. Chris Bosh added 16 for Miami, which has beaten the Thunder five consecutive times going back to last June’s title series.

Kevin Durant scored 33 points and Russell Westbrook added 21 for OklahomaCity, but both Thunder stars missed potentially game-tying three-point attempts in the final seconds. Serge Ibaka and Kevin Martin each added 15 for the Thunder, who have dropped two consecutive for the first time this season.

The Heat went 19 for 19 from the free-throw line, the second-best effort in franchise history. They were 30 for 30 at Boston on March 24, 1993.

And it was a wild rematch - one that lived up to expectations.

There was a fast start bythe reigning champions, a one handed dunk by James on an offensive rebound that will be added to his highlight reel, a scrum after a hard foul that led to double-technicals on Wade and Ibaka early in the fourth, an easy rally by the Thunder, and even a jawing match between Durant and James in the final minutes.

Such was the intensity that James slumped over the scorer’s table with 1:08 left, exhausted.

Oh, and there was a wild finish, as well.

Wade lost the ball on an ill-advised, behind-the-back dribble, and the turnover set up Durant for a two-handed dunk that got the Thunder within 96-95 with 44.1 seconds remaining.

Kendrick Perkins and Ibaka both were confused on the ensuing Miami possession, and Bosh was left alone to take a pass from James and throw down a dunk that restored Miami’s three-point edge.

Oklahoma City got within one when Durant made a jumper over James, but no closer. Ray Allen’s two free throws with 15.6 seconds left made it 100-97, and Miami’s last three points came from the line after a Thunder foul and Westbrook getting hit with a technical for punching a table after arguing that he was fouled on his three-point try in the final moments.

While the stars were stars, the Heat got help from one unexpected source. Chalmers was making everything, even unintended plays.

Allen lost possession on what looked to be a pass tono one, but Chalmers picked up the bouncing ball on the right wing, whirled and made a three-pointer - putting Miami up 86-79 with 8:14 left.

In the end, that cushion was necessary.

The Heat came out flying, opening a 13-2 lead after making six of their first seven shots. About all that didn’t go right for the Heat early on was James committing a foul, the first time he was called for one since Dec. 8.

It happened 4:03 into the game - 254 minutes and 7 seconds of on-court time since his last one - when James fouled Ibaka on a dunk attempt.

Chalmers had 12 points, matching his season high, in the opening quarter alone, and that was also Miami’s lead after his layup for a 15-3 edge. When Durant headed to the bench after being called for his second personal, plus a technical, with 2:08 left in the first, the Heat led 27-16.

But even with Durant out, Oklahoma City scored the last eight points of the quarter, six of those coming from the line in what became a theme.

The Thunder shot 17 of the game’s first 18 free throws, with Miami’s lone attempt coming on Durant’s technical. No Heat player went to the line after a shooting foul until James scored while being hit with 2:47 left in the half. By the early portion of the third quarter, the free-throw difference was 22-2 in favor of Oklahoma City.

It helped the Thunder shake off that slow start.

Miami’s lead was 54-48 at the half, but the Heat were held to two points in the first 5:05 of the third, and the Thunder grabbed the lead for thefirst time. Durant went left, connected on a baseline jumper while falling out of bounds and getting fouled by James. The resulting free throw gave Oklahoma City a 58-56 edge.

CELTICS 93, NETS 76

NEW YORK - Rajon Rondo scored 19 points in his first full game against Brooklyn this season, and the Boston Celtics beat the Nets in another game with some heated moments between the division rivals.

Rondo, sidelined in the first meeting and thrown out of the second after shoving Nets forward Kris Humphries into the courtside seats, outplayed counterpart Deron Williams and helped the Celtics take control early.

Rookie Jared Sullinger tied a career high with 16 points and Jeff Green had 15 for the Celtics (14-13), who avoided falling under .500 with just their second victory in six games.

Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez each scored 15 for the Nets, who have lost four of five.

The Celtics took control with a 23-5 run in the second quarter. They had 11 assists on 13 baskets and outscored the Nets 34-18 in the period.

A month after the teams scuffled in Boston, there was another skirmish in the fourth quarter that resulted in four technical fouls, but that was the most fight the Nets put up in a disappointing performance on the national stage of the Christmas opener. They were never in the game after the first 20 minutes, and their fans headed to the exits with under two minutes left as a “Let’s go Celtics!” chant broke out.

Sports, Pages 15 on 12/26/2012

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