MIAMI — The king finally has his ring.
Two years ago, LeBron James chose to team up with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in Miami and build an instant basketball dynasty. The Heat fell two victories shy of beginning that reign in 2011. On Thursday, Miami’s rule over the NBA officially started.
The Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106 at American Airlines Arena in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to clinch the franchise’s second championship. After losing the first game of the series, the Heat won four consecutive. While the Heat’s victories in Game 2, 3 and 4 were close and decided by only a few possessions, the clincher was an emphatic statement.
“We believe we built a team to be around for awhile,” team President Pat Riley said.
James, named NBA Finals MVP, scored 26 points to go along with 13 assists and 11 rebounds. His assist total tied a postseason career high. James entered Game 5 averaging 29.3 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists in the series.
“It’s about damn time,” James said after receiving his MVP trophy.
The Heat are the first team to win the NBA Finals after trailing in three series. Miami trailed the Indiana Pacers 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, trailed the Boston Celtics 3-2 in the Eastern Conference final and trailed the Thunder 1-0 in the NBA Finals.
“We love you, Miami,” Coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Thank you for your patience.”
James, Wade and Bosh checked out of the game with 3:01 left and the celebration officially started. James smiled and lifted a single finger to the crowd. The building shook with excitement and noise. Minutes later, the celebratory streamers and confetti fell from the rafters and Spoelstra was drenched with Gatorade.
The entire fourth quarter felt like coronation inside thunderous American Airlines Arena. The Heat led by 24 points to begin the final quarter and led by 10 points at halftime.
“Your champion, Miami Heat,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said during the presentation of the Larry O’Brien Trophy at midcourt.
Led by a barrage of three pointers, Miami blew open the game with a 24-6 run in the third quarter. Battier made two three-pointers during the championship-clinching burst while Mario Chalmers, Bosh and Mike Miller each had one three-pointer.
Miller, who played with a bad back the entire postseason, scored a postseason career-high 23 points and was 7 of 8 from three-point range. The Heat made 14 of 26 attempts from three-point range, setting an NBA Finals record.
Wade had 20 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. He and Udonis Haslem now have two championships with the Heat. Haslem had a point, an assist and a rebound in Game 5.
“Since I won it six years ago, I’ve been through a lotin my personal life and I’ve been through a lot in my professional life,” Wade said. “This one means so much more.”
Bosh, who missed nine consecutive games during the playoffs with an abdominal strain, had 24 points and seven rebounds. His threepointer with 3:30 left in the third quarter gave the Heat a 25-point lead. Miller expanded the lead to 28 points with a three-pointer on the Heat’s next possession.
“We came here to win a championship and we got it done,” Bosh said.
James, whose postseason performance will enter the pantheon of the sport, did it with force and might, throwing his 6-8, 250-pound frame at the rim for four rounds.He scored at least 16 points in the lane in each of his final seven playoff games. It was the longest such streak of his career.
Setting a new standard for the postseason, James had 13 games in the playoffs with at least 25 points, 5 reboundsand 5 assists. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and James held the previous record of 11 consecutive games with at least 25-5-5 in the postseason.
The Heat broke off a 10-2 run early in the third quarter to push its lead by to double digits. Chalmers drained his second three-pointer of the game less than two minutes into the quarter and Battier followed with his second 3.
Led by James’ urgency, the Heat began the game like a team ready to close out the series. James started the scoring with a soaring dunk and then slashed to the basket for a fivepoint burst midway through the period. Meanwhile, Bosh matched James’ aggression in the lane and Miller emerged from the bench to provide his most significant contribution of the series.
Miller had more points by halftime (nine) than he had in the series’ first four games combined (eight).
Battier finished with 11 points and was 3 of 7 from three-point range. Chalmers had 10 points and was 2 of 4 from three-point range.
Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 23 points and Russell Westbrook had 19. The Heat shot 51.9 percent from the field and 53.8 percent from three-point range while the Thunder shot 41.4 percent.
“We’re going to have a party tonight,” Riley said.
NBA Final MVPs 2012 LeBron James, Miami 2011 Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas 2010 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers 2009 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers 2008 Paul Pierce, Boston 2007 Tony Parker, San Antonio 2006 Dwyane Wade, Miami 2005 Tim Duncan, San Antonio 2004 Chauncey Billups, Detroit 2003 Tim Duncan, San Antonio 2002 Shaquille O’Neal, LA Lakers
Sports, Pages 17 on 06/22/2012