Second NBA Championship Title (2012)

Lore & Background

The Heat lost Game 1 in Oklahoma City, 105–94. They then won Game 2 in Oklahoma City, 100–96, to tie the series. Miami won Game 3 at home, 91–85, to go up two games to one. The Heat won Game 4 at home, 104–98, to take a three-games-to-one lead. Miami won Game 5 at home, 121–106, to win the series four games to one. The series started on June 12 and concluded on June 21.

In Their Own Story

The arena hummed with a tension that felt heavier than usual. It was Game 6 of the Finals, and the Oklahoma City Thunder had been routed in the first half. As the clock wound down in the fourth quarter, LeBron James drove to the rim, drawing the defense before kicking it out to Ray Allen for a corner three that seemed to seal fate. The roar from the Miami faithful wasn't just noise; it was a release of two years of pent-up pressure. When the final buzzer sounded, Dwyane Wade collapsed into James's arms, and the court flooded with orange and black confetti. In that moment, the 'Big Three' were no longer a question mark; they were kings.

Reader's Guide

The Heat's LeBron James was named the NBA Finals MVP, after averaging 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. This was the Heat's second consecutive Finals appearance, after losing to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. The Heat were led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. In the regular season, the Heat finished with 46 wins, earning the second seed in the Eastern Conference. They defeated the New York Knicks 4–1 in the first round, the Indiana Pacers 4–2 in the conference semifinals, and the Boston Celtics 4–3 in the Eastern Conference finals.

Did You Know?

• The win by the Heat earned LeBron James his first championship.
• The Heat overcame a 3-2 series deficit against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals to reach the finals.
• Mike Miller made 7 of 8 three-pointers in Game 5, scoring 23 points.
• The Heat tied an NBA Finals record for most three-pointers in a game with 14 in Game 5.