LeBron James scored a game-high 33 points despite having his nose bloodied and being knocked to the floor in the fourth quarter of Miami’s 103-81 victory Thursday in Oklahoma City.
The two-time defending champions avenged a 112-95 loss to the Thunder last month in Miami, trailing for only 66 seconds in the entire game but still having cause for worry when James went down.
James, who made 15-of-22 shots from the floor in 33 minutes, dribbled up the middle past a defensive double team midway into the fourth quarter when he was struck by Spanish big man Serge Ibaka of the Thunder.
The four-time NBA MVP kept going, slamming the ball into the hoop before sprawling on the floor beneath the basket.
Laying dazed for most of the next minute, blood was visible on the court and when James rolled over it became clear his nose had been bloodied.
“He got hit pretty good,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
James passed a concussion test and a doctor examined the player’s nose and found it was not broken.