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University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Bruins in the NBA - Westbrook's Thunder Fall in NBA Finals
June 22, 2012
The 2012 NBA season has come to a close. On Thursday night in Miami, the Heat won the NBA Championship, 4-1, after a 121-106 victory over Russell Westbrook's Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5.
Russell Westbrook, G (fourth NBA season with Oklahoma City Thunder, Western Conference/Northwest Div., 47-19 regular season, first-place/second seed in Western Conference, defeated No. 7 seed and defending NBA champions Dallas Mavericks 4-0 in their first round playoff series, won series with No. 3 LA Lakers in semifinals, 4-1, won series with No. 1 seed San Antonio in finals, 4-2, played Miami in NBA Final, Heat won the championship, 4-1)
On June 21 in Miami, the Heat's LeBron James' triple double (26 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists) led Miami to a convincing 121-106 victory over Oklahoma City to capture the 2012 NBA Championship. After losing the first game at Oklahoma City on June 12, Miami won four games in a row to claim the 2012 NBA title, its first championship since 2006. James, the regular season NBA Most Valuable Player, was also named the Finals MVP, leading the Heat to an 11-2 home playoff record. Miami led by as many as 27 points early in the fourth quarter and shot the basketball well from the field (40-77, 51.9%), three-point line (14-26, 53.8%) and foul line (27-33, 81.8%). Oklahoma City shot 39.3% (11-28) from three-point range and struggled from there the entire series, hitting only 32-105 (30.5%) for the five-game series. Oklahoma City ended the playoffs with a 4-6 road record. For the Thunder, Westbrook started and played a team-high tying 43 minutes, with 19 points (4-20, 0-5, 11-13/scored in double figures 19 of 20 playoff games, including seven consecutive), four rebounds, team-high six assists, and a game-high tying two steals.
In the final NBA playoff stats, Westbrook (20 games) was No. 6 in scoring (23.1ppg), No. 9 in assists (5.9apg) and tied for eighth in steals (1.55spg). He only averaged 2.3 turnovers a game throughout the entire NBA playoffs.
On June 19 in Miami, Russell Westbrook's playoff career-high of 43 points was not enough for Oklahoma City as Miami rallied from a 17-point first quarter deficit to defeat the Thunder, 104-98 and take a 3-1 commanding lead in the NBA Championship series. In the history of the series, no team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the title and the Heat can claim the 2012 NBA title with a victory on their home court Thursday night. Miami is 10-2 at home during the 2012 playoffs and have won the last three championship games, including a win at Oklahoma City on June 15. Oklahoma City's road playoff record drops to 4-5 and the Thunder are 15-17 this season when held under 100 points. Oklahoma City led 33-19 after the first quarter and late in the game, Miami's LeBron James missed important seconds because of leg cramping. But with 2:51 left to play, James came back into the contest and hit a three-pointer, giving Miami a 97-94 lead. For the game, Miami connected on 10 of 26 three-point shots and Oklahoma City hit only three of 16. For the Thunder, Westbrook started and played 45 minutes, scoring his playoff career best 43 points (20-32, 0-3, 3-3/his 20 field goals are the most in an NBA game the last two seasons and he became the first player in Finals history to score at least 43 points with three free-throw attempts or fewer), with seven rebounds, team-high five assists and one steal. Westbrook scored 13 consecutive points to start the fourth quarter and with 40 seconds left to play, his banked-in jumper pulled Oklahoma City to within two points of Miami, 101-98.
On June 17 in Miami, the Thunder could not hold onto a 10-point third quarter lead and the Heat's LeBron James scored eight of his 29 points in the fourth quarter as Miami rallied to beat Oklahoma City, 91-85 to take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Championship series. The next two games are in Miami as the Heat are now 9-2 at home in the playoffs. During the regular season, Miami tied with San Antonio for the best regular season home record (28-5), while the Thunder's road playoff record drops to 4-4 (Oklahoma City has lost two consecutive games to Miami, including one in Oklahoma City on June 15). For the Thunder, Westbrook started and played 38 minutes, with 19 points (8-18, 1-4, 2-2/five consecutive playoff games in double figures/17 of 18 playoff games in double scoring figures/snaps four-game playoff streak of scoring 20 or more points), five rebounds, four assists, a playoff and game-high tying two blocked shots and only two turnovers (averaging just two turnovers a game in the championship series). During an important stretch of the third quarter (5:01 remaining in the period), Westbrook was sent to the bench after missing two shots and committing two turnovers. Westbrook came back with a late 17-foot fourth quarter jumper that brought Oklahoma City to within one point of Miami, 86-85. But the Heat connected on five of six free throws in the game's final 1:19 to secure the victory (overall Miami made 31 of 35 free throws, Oklahoma City 15-24 free throws).
In the final NBA playoff stats, Westbrook (20 games) was No. 6 in scoring (23.1ppg), No. 9 in assists (5.9apg) and tied for eighth in steals (1.55spg). He only averaged 2.3 turnovers a game throughout the entire NBA playoffs.
Westbrook's Final Playoff Stats: 120G/20GS, 38.4MIN, 5.5RB, team leader 5.8AST, team high tying 1.55STL, 23.1PPG (No. 2 team scorer).
Westbrook's Final Regular Season Stats: 66G/66GS (has started every game), 35.3MIN, 4.6RB, team-leading 5.5AST and 1.7STL, 23.6ppg (No. 2 team scorer).
NBA Finals (Oklahoma City vs. Miami, heat wins series, 4-1) - Eastern Conference Champion No. 2 Miami vs. Western Conference Champion No. 2 Oklahoma City (regular season series was tied, 1-1) - Game 1 - June 12 at OKC (OKC 105, M 94); Game 2 - June 14 at OKC (M 100, OKC 96); Game 3 - June 17 at Miami (M 91, OKC 85 Game 4 - June 19 at Miami (M 104, OKC 98); Game 5 - June 21 at Miami (M 121, OKC 106).
Western Conference Finals (Oklahoma City wins series, 4-2) - No. 1 San Antonio vs. No. 2 Oklahoma City (S.A. won regular season series, 2-1) - Game 1 - May 27 at S. A. (S.A. 101, OKC 98); Game 2 - May 29 at S. A. (S. A 120, OKC 111); Game 3 - May 31 at OKC (OKC 102, S.A. 82); Game 4 - June 2 at OKC (OKC 109, S. A. 103); Game 5 - June 4 at S.A. (OKC 108, S.A. 103); Game 6 - June 6 at OKC (OKC 107, S.A. 99).
Semifinals (Oklahoma City wins series, 4-1) - No. 2 Oklahoma City vs. No. 3 Lakers (OKC won regular season series, 2-1) - Game 1 - May 14 at OKC (OKC 119, LAL 90); Game 2 - May 16 at OKC (OKC 77, LAL 75); Game 3 - May 18 at Lakers (LAL 99, OKC 96); Game 4 - May 19 at Lakers (OKC 103, LAL 100); Game 5 - May 21 at OKC (OKC 106, LAL 90).
First Round Playoff Series Series (Oklahoma City wins series 4-0) - No. 2 Oklahoma City vs. No. 7 Dallas (OKC won regular season series, 3-1) - Game 1 - April 28 - at OKC (OKC 99, Dallas 98); Game 2 - April 30 at OKC (OKC 102, D 99); Game 3 - May 3 at Dallas (OKC 95, D 79); Game 4 - May 5 at Dallas (OKC 103, D 97).
Bruins in the NBA News Update: The New Orleans Hornets traded Trevor Ariza and center Emeka Okafor to the Washington Wizards for forward Rashard Lewis and a 2012 second-round draft pick. At the conclusion of the current regular season, Ariza had completed his second year with the Hornets and his eighth NBA season. A starter for the Bruins as a freshman in 2003-04, Ariza was a second round selection in the 2004 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. The Washington Wizards will be Ariza's sixth NBA team - 2004-05 (New York Knicks); 2005-06 (New York Knicks/Orlando Magic); 2006-07 (Orlando Magic); 2007-08 (Orlando Magic/Los Angeles Lakers); 2008-09 (Los Angeles Lakers, earned an NBA Championship ring); 2009-10 (Houston Rockets); 2010-2012 (New Orleans Hornets); 2012-13 (Washington Wizards). During his eight-year NBA career, Ariza has played in 499 games, averaging 26.0 minutes, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 9.0 points.