James, Heat lead Thunder by 10 at halftime
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}LeBron James and the Heat lead the Thunder by 10 points at halftime Thursday night in what could be a title-clinching Game 5 of the NBA Finals for Miami.
James had 15 points and the Heat carried a 59-49 advantage into the locker room after leading by as many as 17 in the second quarter.
The Heat have a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series after winning three in a row.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}No matter what, Thursday will be their last game at home this season. Game 6 would be Sunday in Oklahoma City, which would also host Game 7 next Tuesday if necessary.
Kevin Durant scored 14 points to lead the Thunder and Russell Westbrook had 13.
Miami's Mike Miller went 4-for-4 on 3s in the half, hitting the last one near the end of a 19-4 run in the second quarter. James capped the surge with a layup in transition to give the Heat their 17-point lead at 53-36.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}But the Thunder, behind Durant, ended the half on a 13-6 run.
Earlier, James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh scored 13 straight Heat points and the team made nine shots in a row, taking a 28-19 lead on Miller's back-to- back 3s.
Norris Cole hit a 3 for Miami moments later, but Durant's soaring one-handed baseline dunk over Udonis Haslem pulled the Thunder within 31-26 going into the second quarter.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Miller came out after picking up his fourth foul. Wade was whistled for his third foul after diving for a loose ball despite being the first one on the floor. He had nine points in the half.
James, who played hero in Game 4 with a go-ahead 3 despite cramps in his legs, was 6-for-9 in the half and the Heat shot 55 percent as a team.