By Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY

Updated


OKLAHOMA CITY – For the first time in a month, the Miami Heat's Big Three started a game together.

  • By Mark D. Smith, US Presswire
    Heat forward LeBron James drives past Thunder forward Serge Ibaka on Thursday in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

By Mark D. Smith, US Presswire
Heat forward LeBron James drives past Thunder forward Serge Ibaka on Thursday in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.



Miami needed every point, rebound and assist and more from forwards LeBron James and Chris Bosh and guard Dwyane Wade to outlast Oklahoma City's Big Three.
Barely.


James, Wade and Bosh combined for 72 points, and the Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 100-96 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals Thursday, tying the best-of-7 series at 1-1. It was the Thunder's first loss in 10 home playoff games this season.
Game 3 is Sunday in Miami (8 p.m. ET, ABC), and the Heat now have home-court advantage.
James had 32 points, Wade had 24 points, six rebounds and five assists and Bosh had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and they held off a fourth-quarter rally.
"It's great when we're all scoring," Wade said early Thursday afternoon. "We're a good team when all three of us are scoring but also better when all of us are scoring and we get help, when we get timely makes from other guys."
Wade played well, start to finish, making 10-of-20 shots, and the Heat made a commitment to get Bosh the ball in the low post.
Down 82-69 with 8:35 left in the fourth quarter, the Thunder made it 94-91 on guard Russell Westbrook's dunk, but James 15-foot bank shot made it 96-91 with 1:26 left.
Thunder Forward Kevin Durant had 32 points, including 28 in the second half and 17 in the fourth quarter. Westbrook had 27 points and James Harden, the Sixth Man of the Year, had 21 points - 17 in the first half.
But Miami had more from its role players. Forward Shane Battier had another strong game with 17 points.
Bosh started for started for the first time since sustaining a lower abdominal strain in Game 1 against the Pacers. It was his fourth game back after missing nine in a row, and he made an impact after Spoelstra promised Bosh would have a bigger role in the offense.
Battier, guard Mario Chalmers and reserves Norris Cole and Udonis Haslem had those "timely makes."
Thriving in the 2012 playoffs with adversity surrounding them, the Heat responded again. They did it trailing the Indiana Pacers 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals and after falling behind 3-2 to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
Bosh started for the first time since sustaining a lower abdominal strain in Game 1 against the Pacers. It was his fourth game back after missing nine in a row, and he made an impact with 16 points and 15 rebounds. He had a double-double in the first half.
The Thunder started slowly, shooting 5-of-20 in the first quarter, and played most of the game from down 10 points or more. Durant and Westbrook, who were so difficult to defend in Game 1, shot a combined 5-of-19 in the first half. Unlike Game 1, Oklahoma City did not overcome this poor start.
The Heat played with heightened intensity on offense and defense and made a commitment to getting back on defense, slowing the Thunder's transition game. After scoring 24 fastbreak points in Game 1, Oklahoma City had no fastbreak points through the first two and half quarters.
The Heat had to answer the tough questions after Game 1, and the Spoelstra and the Heat made the right adjustments.
"We understand that this whole thing can change," All the storylines, everything, the momentum, all that stuff can change tonight and now there can be another reality."

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