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Heavyweights tangle in OKC when Heat meet Thunder

Mar 25, 2012 - 5:51 PM (Sports Network) - Two of the NBA's top teams will square off in Oklahoma City on Sunday when Kevin Durant and the Thunder play host to LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

Miami currently trails Chicago in the Eastern Conference but is percentage points ahead of West-leading Oklahoma City, which could come into play if both teams reach the NBA Finals in June.

The Thunder are coming off a thriller on Friday when Russell Westbrook scored nine of his career-high 45 points in the second overtime period to help Oklahoma City earn a frantic 149-140 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Durant added 40 points, including a couple of big three-pointers late in regulation and in the first overtime, and pulled down 17 rebounds in Oklahoma City's second straight win.

James Harden contributed 25 points, six rebounds and six assists in the victory, the Thunder's 11th straight over the T-Wolves.

Kevin Love netted a career-high and franchise-record 51 points to go along with 14 rebounds for the Timberwolves.

"I'm sure the fans and players enjoyed this one more than me," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said. "Our team never gives up but we never could figure them out, and Love had a big game against all our guys."

The Heat, meanwhile, are also coming off a win in their last encounter, a 88-73 triumph at Detroit. Dwyane Wade filled the stat sheet in that one with 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals as Miami cruised to the victory.

James added 17 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and four steals for the Heat, who have won four straight and seven of their last nine games. Chris Bosh had 15 points and nine rebounds.

Miami, which is in the middle of a three-game road trip, outscored Detroit 46-26 in the paint and tallied 27 points off 23 Detroit turnovers.

"We had very active feet, active hands," said Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. "I liked a lot of the things that were going on."

The Thunder, who are 21-4 at home this season, have won three of their past four games with Miami, which is 15-9 as the visitor and will conclude its brief trek in Indiana on Monday.