If you were looking for strong emotions, last night Miami was the right place. Game 5 of the NBA Finals was a succulent dish, in fact, probably the tastiest of the series. On the menu the head-on collision between two great individual performances (a stratospheric Lebron with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 12 assists against an extraordinary Westbrook), disappointments and emotions, with that pinch of heroism, always from Lebron, which gives more flavor to the course.
Ma what matters most is that Miami wins again (104 to 98) and goes 3 to 1, and now has 3 match points on his racket, with one more game to go at home before possibly returning to Oklahoma.
Not a good sign for the thunder, against which, in addition to inexperience, history is also playing at this point. In fact, since the NBA existed, only eight teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit. an almost insignificant percentage, even if, in sport, as long as there is life there is always hope.
The Thunder, given by many as the favourites, hurt themselves with their own hands, after un first quarter dominated far and wide and closed on 33 to 19, thanks to a very inspired Westbrook (in the end his points will be 43, with 5 assists).
The second quarter, in fact, opened with a terrifying run by Miami, who scores 13 points (to 0) in an amen, 8 of which signed by the accidental hero Norris Cole, while James produces assists repeatedly and on the other side Westbrook continues to make good and bad times. The first half ends on 49 to 46 for the Thunder, for them everything needs to be redone.
In the third quarter it continues the comeback of the Heat, led by Wade and Lebron, with the help of a good Bosh (13 points and 9 rebounds) and another surprise hero, the much-criticized point guard Mario Chalmers (25 points for him), who starts to dig the first, small groove with triples, bringing the Heat up +7, before Westbrook and a subdued Durant reduce the distance on 79 to 75 with the fourth ending here.
Same script in the concluding quarter: the Thunder try to put their head forward, but are always pushed back. 5' from the end the incredible happens: during a counter-attack Lebron James goes down and hurts his knee. Miami calls time-out, but Lebron is not there when he returns to the field. For the Heat it is as if the light had gone out. The Thunder score 4 points (to 0) and take the lead again (94-92). At that point Lebron comes back and scores an incredible triple, without rhythm, limping conspicuously, a triple that, together with baskets from Bosh and Wade, brings Miami up +5.
The game essentially ends here. Every attempt is in vain, for the Thunder, despite a superhuman Westbrook, every resistance is useless. Chalmers is cold from the line and ends the game. For Miami, in the night between Thursday and Friday, there will be the possibility, by winning, of put the coveted ring on your finger. For Lebron it would be the first. Given what has happened to date, no one deserves it more than him.
