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N.B.A. Finals Game 4: Heat 104, Thunder 98
James and Heat Are One Win Away
MIAMI — Some feelings were evident and some remained purposefully shrouded as LeBron James shuffled off the stage Tuesday night, another victory in hand, an elusive championship nearly within his grasp.
The physical anguish had been obvious — a leg cramp so painful that James had to be carried from the court while the Miami Heat were still battling the Oklahoma City Thunder through another tight fourth quarter in the N.B.A. finals.
It was only after Mario Chalmers had secured the 104-98 victory that James could relax, rehydrate and contemplate the question that will dominate the next 48 hours: How does it feel to be one win from the title?
“Of course, it’s there to think about,” James said, and that was about all he would offer on the subject.
Anticipation is now unavoidable, with the Heat holding a commanding three games to one lead in the series and a chance to close it out Thursday night at home. Every team that has held a 3-1 lead in the finals has won the championship.
“Tomorrow, we’re going to prepare for Game 5,” James said, his face never betraying a hint of emotion. On this momentous night, he even left his prop eyeglasses behind, his demeanor as serious as it could be.
The Heat overcame a 17-point deficit in the first quarter, withstood Russell Westbrook’s career playoff-best 43 points and made all the key plays down the stretch while the young Thunder again came apart in the tense final minutes.
So now James, one of the most scrutinized stars in professional sports, stands one win from his first title — though for a time Tuesday, he could hardly stand at all. A severe cramp in James’s right thigh forced him from the game with 5 minutes 15 seconds left, the Heat holding a 2-point lead.
Juwan Howard and the team trainer Jay Sabol carried James off the court, a momentarily frightening image.
“I tried to walk to the bench,” James said, “but my legs wouldn’t allow me.”
While James got fluids and a leg massage, Kevin Durant scored 4 straight points to give the Thunder the lead. After resting for just 70 seconds, James hobbled back into the fray and promptly drilled a straightaway 3-pointer for a 97-94 lead.
James would limp back to the bench with 55.5 seconds left, but Miami never trailed again. Chalmers skipped through the paint for a layup to extend the lead to 101-96, then made 3 of 4 free throws to seal the victory.
Chalmers finished with 25 points, tying his career playoff high. James had 26 points, 12 assists and 9 rebounds. Dwyane Wade added 25 points. Durant (28 points) and Westbrook were the only Thunder players to score in double figures. Their teammates shot 11 for 31 from the field.
The Heat have won three straight games since losing Game 1 in Oklahoma City, and have been the steadier team down the stretch every time, repelling every Thunder rally.
Westbrook was devastating all night, attacking the rim and sinking jump shots from everywhere. He was as efficient (20 for 32 from the field) as he was aggressive. He scored 10 points in the first quarter to power his team to a double-digit lead. When the Heat took a 7-point lead in the fourth, Westbrook put together his own 7-0 run to tie the score at 90-90.
“Russell is a winner,” Coach Scott Brooks said. “That guy competes every time.”
There was partial vindication for Westbrook, who has been criticized for sometimes playing out of control. But only partial. After the Thunder took a 94-92 lead, their last, Westbrook dribbled the ball off his foot for a turnover, then missed a tough 18-footer. Moments later, trailing by 97-94 after James’s 3-pointer, Durant got the ball stripped, leading to a Wade layup.
Westbrook scored his last basket on a bank shot that cut the deficit to 101-98 with 40.5 seconds left. Then came one final mistake. With 17.3 seconds to go, the Thunder forced a jump ball. The shot clock, which had run down, was by rule reset to five seconds. The Thunder only needed to make a defensive stop. But Westbrook, apparently unclear on the rule, immediately fouled Chalmers, who hit both free throws to effectively seal the game.
“It was a tough play,” Brooks said. “Could have been a communication thing.”
Westbrook called it “a miscommunication on my part. Nothing I can do about it now.”
On the Thunder’s next trip down, Durant misfired on a 3-pointer, then swung his arm in frustration. The Thunder, who are 0-2 on the Heat’s court in this series, must win here Thursday to send the series back to Oklahoma City for Game 6 and a potential Game 7.
“We’re going to keep fighting,” Durant said, adding, “That’s how it’s been since I got here.”
For the first time in three games, Durant avoided foul trouble, mostly by avoiding James. Durant opened the game guarding Shane Battier, while Thabo Sefolosha checked James, an implicit admission that the Durant-James matchup was hurting the Thunder. Durant had picked up five fouls in each of the previous two games, and James was a primary cause.
This time, it was James Harden who struggled to contend with James, picking up his third and fourth fouls in quick succession in the third quarter. Harden continued his series-long slump, going 2 for 10 from the field and committing a team-high four turnovers.
Westbrook attacked from the opening tip, darting around, through and over the Heat defense. The Thunder had a 10-point lead before the game was four minutes old and a 17-point lead — their largest of the series — by the end of the quarter.
Miami responded with a 16-0 blast, sparked by consecutive Norris Cole 3-pointers, plus driving layups from James and Wade.
As James, Wade and Chris Bosh inched closer to their first title, the man who brought them together two summers ago accepted a rare moment in the spotlight. Before tip-off, Pat Riley, the Heat’s often-seen, rarely heard-from team president, received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given annually to a coaching legend.
In an odd twist, the man presenting that trophy was Rick Carlisle, the Dallas Mavericks head coach and president of the coaches association, who a year ago celebrated a championship in this arena, at the Heat’s expense.
“It’s good to be back for a minute,” Riley said wryly.
It was a subtle acknowledgment of his reclusive habits. With one more victory, the Heat could force Riley back into the spotlight — to enjoy the ovations.
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