Durant, Westbrook lead Thunder past Heat in game 1

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Durant and Westbrook combine for 63 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a game 1 victory

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – JUNE 12: Kevin Durant #35 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts after making a shot in the second half in Game One of the 2012 NBA Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 12, 2012 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines – Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combine for 63 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a game 1 victory over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.

3-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant was sensational finishing the game with 36 points on 60% (12/20) shooting from the field while all-star point guard Russell Westbrook was just as amazing finishing the game with a near triple-double scoring 27 points, dishing out 11 assists, and grabbing 11 rebounds.

MVP LeBron James led Miami with 30 points, but like the rest of his team, most of his damage was done in the first half. Dwyane Wade had a decent outing with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists but clearly his team needed more from him.

Miami was leading until late in the 3rd quarter. Westbrook got aggressive attacking the rim scoring 12 of his 27 points in the 3rd quarter.

X-Factors:

Thunder’s Nick Collison came off the bench to provide efficient minutes grabbing rebounds and scoring timely baskets to support stars Durant and Westbrook. He finished the game with 8 points and 10 rebounds.

Heat’s Shane Battier, who is only averaging 5.7 points per game in the playoffs, comes up big in the first half. He knocked down 3 triples in the first quarter and added 4 more points in the second to finish the half with 13 markers. Battier finished the game with 17 points.

Non-factors:

Thunder’s James Harden, the reigning NBA 6th man of the year, struggled all game finishing with only 5 points and 3 assists.

Heat’s Chris Bosh, probably the least popular of Miami’s Big 3, who was a key player in their close-out win against the Boston Celtics finished the game with only 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Game two will be played on Thursday, June 14 at 9 PM (Friday, June 15, 9 AM in the Phiippines) at Chesapeake arena in Oklahoma City.

– Rappler.com

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