Oklahoma City Thunder: Heat’s role players the difference

In Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Mike Miller took eight 3-point shots. He made seven and finished with 23 points.

In Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Mario Chalmers scored 25 points. The Heat won by six and led by just three points, 99-96, when Chalmers scored Miami’s final five points.

In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Shane Battier took seven 3-point shots. He made five and finished with 17 points. The Heat won 100-96.

Here’s why the NBA Finals are over, and the Thunder’s scintillating run to basketball’s grandest stage is over. The Heat’s role players produced huge performances that lifted Miami’s top-heavy roster. The Thunder’s role players did not match that kind of production.

In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder lost to San Antonio, but it wasn’t Derek Fisher’s fault — Fish made six of eight shots and scored 13 points.

In Game 3 of the West finals, Thabo Sefolosha scored 19 points and made four 3-pointers. It was a season high and just his sixth double-digit scoring game of the year. The Thunder secured its first victory of the series.

In Game 4 of the West finals, Serge Ibaka made all 11 of his shots and scored a career high 26 points. The Thunder evened the series 2-2.