Just getting started? No NBA team has overcome a 3-0 deficit.
In Game 1 for TNT Thursday Night hoops, the Miami Heat traveled to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks in a must win game for both teams. The Knicks who lost rookie standout guard Iman Shumpert to an ACL tear in game 2 were also without their other star Amare Stoudemire, who cut his hand punching a glass case surrounding a fire extinguisher. This game was really close before the 4th quarter started. LeBron James caught foul trouble early in the 3rd quarter picking up his 4th foul on Tyson Chandler, but that didn’t stop the Heat. Dwayne Wade kept things calm as he scored back to back 3 pointers within 30 seconds to give Miami their first lead since the 1st quarter. By the start of the 4th, the well-rested LeBron James scored 8 straight points at the start of the quarter and finished with 17 overall in the final 12 minutes (Clutch?). James had a game high 32 points, 8 assist and rebounds, while guards Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers also chipped in 20 and 19 points respectively. The Knicks were hoping to have Jeremy Lin back for game 4 but that seems unlikely now after a recent workout at Knicks practice facilities. Miami now looks to go the sweep Sunday afternoon at Penn Plaza.
Game 2 of the Thursday’s double-header featured Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks. Unlike the first two games in Oklahoma City, Game 3 in Dallas wasn’t even close. The Thunder jumped to a quick start with their captain Kevin Durant scoring 13 points in the first quarter. Dallas was quickly down 16-7 in by the first 5 minutes of the game but cut the lead to 6 by the end of the first quarter. Dallas couldn’t make ground during the 2nd and early 3rd quarter; and with the Thunders 16-5 run in the 3rd, Dallas was back down 15 points again. By the start of the 4th quarter, the excitement in the American Airlines Center was gone and the Mavs were ready to throw in the towel. Durant finished with a game high 31 points going 11 of 15 shooting from the field and guard Russell Westbrook chipped in 20 points as well. Heading into game 4 Saturday, the defending champion Mavericks are on the brink of being swept out of the playoffs.
Win or Go Home!
Miami 87, New York 70
Heat lead 3-0
Game 4 is scheduled this Sunday on ABC with a tip-off set for 3:30 pm (ET).
Oklahoma City 95, Dallas 79
Thunder lead 3-0
Game 4 is scheduled this Saturday on TNT with a tip-off set for 7:30 pm (ET).