Basketball: Thunder beat Heat in NBA finals opener

OKLAHOMA CITY: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 41 points in the second half as the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied to beat Miami 105-94 in game one of the NBA finals. Durant scored 23 of his game-high 36 points in the second half and Westbrook had 12 third-quarter points for the Thunder, who kept their home record perfect in the playoffs with their ninth win in a row at Chesapeake Energy Arena. “I am just playing off my teammates and not trying to force anything,” said Durant. “Everybody came to play and we stuck together.” Game two of the best-of-seven series will be played today in Oklahoma City.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2012.