LeBron James scored a personal NBA final career-high 32 points as Miami Heat rallied from their Game One defeat to win 100-96 over Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Two at the Chesapeake Arena.
The Miami victory levels the series at 1-1 after both games in Oklahoma, before the series heads to Florida.
James was the star of the show with his 32 point game, which included six points in the final four and a half minutes, proving he has become a clutch player on the big stage.
The Heat star was also involved in the big moment of the game, with scores at 98-96, as Kevin Durant turned at shot but missed in the dying moments of the game. Durant argued he had been fouled by James, who did make contact, but there was no call and Miami got home.
On the late incident, James, who put in a great defensive game matched up against Durant, said: “I just tried to keep a body on him and make him hit a tough one.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who hadn’t played James on Durant in Game One, was delighted with his star man’s display in restricting Durant.
Thunder coach Scott Brooks refused to be drawn on the late incident as well, stating: “That’s one play. We have so many other plays that we could have done better to put us in a position to stay closer in the game.”
Durant preferred to look at the opening quarter where Miami raced to a 18-2 lead as the reason for their defeat, their first at home in the postseason.
“That (first quarter) was the game. We can’t get down that much, especially at home,” Durant said.