Miami’s big three turn on the Heat in NBA finals

Los Angeles: Miami’s Big Three moved the Heat halfway home towards winning the NBA crown.

League MVP LeBron James had 29 points with 14 rebounds and the Heat held off the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder 91-85 on Sunday night to take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals best-of-seven series.

“It was great to see us able to close this game out tonight,” said James, referring to fellow superstar teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and himself who combined to score the final 15 Heat points.

“We kind of have to make big plays. If the game gets tight all three of us have to make plays to get the win. It’s about stepping up when our team needs us the most.”

Wade scored 25 points, Bosh contributed 10 with 11 rebounds for Miami, who hit just 37 per cent from the field but made 31 of 35 free throws.

“This is competition at its highest,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s what this is about. We’re facing great competition. I think we only shot 30 per cent, but we built up some toughness now that we can find different ways, resourcefulness, to find different ways to win.”

Miami were in the identical position in the 2011 championship series but lost the next three games to Dallas.

“Everyday, we think of that pain last year,” Bosh said. “It hurts a lot worse when you’re not successful. We carry that pain with us. It really helps us to succeed in the series.”

Miami can put a stranglehold on the series at home in game four tonight in the 2-3-2 format.

“Our mindset is we have to get better in game four because everyone makes adjustments, everyone comes out the next game and does a better job,” James said.

“We know they’re not broken. We know it’s going to be a team that’s going to want to get its home court advantage back.”

Foul-troubled Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 25 points, while Russell Westbrook had 19.

“We put ourselves in a position to win. That’s what it’s about,” Durant said. “Tough loss but this is not over. We’ve got to be ready for the next game.”

After trailing by one at halftime, the Thunder got on a roll and took a 10-point cushion in the third quarter, only to trail 84-77 late in the game.

A 6-0 run pulled them to within 86-85 with 90 seconds left to play, but the Heat iced the pivotal contest from the free throw line.

Bosh made two free throws, James split a pair after drawing a blocking foul on James Harden to make it 89-85.

After Thunder guard Theo Safolosha threw away an inbound pass intended for Westbrook, Wade made both of his from the stripe with 13 seconds remaining, sealing the win to the delight of the more than 20,000 wildly cheering fans at the American Airlines Arena.

“It’s good to see us execute down the stretch,” James said. “But more importantly, it was great to see we were able to get stops. That’s where the game is won and we did that.”

Trailing by double digits in each of the first two games, Oklahoma City came out with more energy but still trailed, 47-46 at halftime. James led Miami while Durant and Westbrook paced the Thunder with 13 points apiece.

The Thunder went ahead 64-54 on a four-point play by Derek Fisher. Moments earlier, Durant went to the bench with his fourth foul at the five-minute-41-second mark, and Westbrook was given a rest as well.

With both Thunder stars on the bench, the Heat used a 13-3 period-ending run to retake the lead 69-67 entering the final frame.

“We weren’t in our flow and they were in their rhythm,” Spoelstra said. “It became a great game from there.”

The Thunder would take their last lead, 77-76 on two free throws by Harden with 7:32 left, as the Heat went on an 8-0 run.

James knocked down two free throws 20 seconds later, and Wade converted a three-point play, making it 81-78 with 4:51 left.

James stormed in for a driving layup off a turnover by Harden and hit the free throw to complete the three-point play after Durant committed his fifth foul, giving the Heat an 84-77 cushion with 3:50 left.

The Thunder didn’t quit, however, and drew to within one. But the Heat’s Big Three calmly wrapped it up from the free throw line.