After much scrutiny, LeBron James has his first championship. (Photo: Marc Serota/Getty Images)
MIAMI – For the second time in franchise history, the Miami Heat are world champions following a 121-106 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder to take Game 5 of the NBA Finals and win the series 4-1. LeBron James finished with a triple-double scoring 26 points to go with 11 rebounds and 13 assists. James was named the NBA Finals MVP.
Things were clicking on all cylinders for Miami as the Heat built a 17-point lead in the first half. Oklahoma City closed to within five early in the second half, but the Heat answered with a 21-7 run and never looked back.
In addition to James’ big night, the Heat had five other players in double-figures. Chris Bosh finished with 24 points while Dwyane Wade scored 20. Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers contributed with 11 and 10 points respectively. But the big surprise came off the bench in the form of Mike Miller. Miller, who had scored just 8 points in the previous four games total, finished with 23 points and shot 7-for-8 from beyond the three-point-line.
Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant led all scorers with 32 points. Russell Westbrook and James Harden each added 19 for the Thunder. Derek Fisher finished with 11 off the bench.
The championship is the second for Miami in seven years. The Heat joined the 2004 Detroit Pistons the 2006 Heat as the only teams to win games 3, 4 and 5 at home in the NBA Finals. Only Wade and forward Udonis Haslem were members of both Miami championship teams. Miami becomes the first team since the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 to win the NBA Finals after losing it the previous season.
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