Sizzling Heat crack Thunder to claim NBA title

Reuters: LeBron James led an outstanding team effort as the Miami Heat demolished the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106 to win the National Basketball Association title on Thursday, the new champions reeling off four straight victories to take the series 4-1.

James enjoyed a brilliant all-round game, grabbing a triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds and a game-high 13 assists and was named most valuable player (MVP) of the series as he finally won a Finals series at the third time of asking.

As the clock ran down, James joined in with the deafening celebrations in the AmericanAirlines Arena from the sidelines, jumping and waving as he roared along with the fans with a beaming smile as the seconds ticked away.

“This means everything,” he said after handing off the golden NBA Championship trophy to accept the MVP award from Boston Celtics great Bill Russell as confetti rained down from the rafters. “This is the happiest day of my life.”

The 27-year-old James was dominant throughout the series but in the Game Five clincher, he had help from all his cohorts.

Six Heat players scored in double figures, including Chris Bosh with 24 and reserve Mike Miller with 23, who went 7-of-8 from beyond the three-point arc in a spectacular display of shooting for the Heat.

Miami pulled away in the third quarter when they ran off 16 points in a row to build a 25-point lead and send the rowdy, standing-room only crowd into early delirium.

Three-times NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant led the young Thunder team with 32 points with Russell Westbrook and James Harden adding 19 points apiece for the losers.