2012 NBA Finals
2012 NBA Finals
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat won the 2012 NBA Finals, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1. LeBron James was named Finals MVP.
For the Thunder, it was the 3rd loss in the Finals.
See every result since 1947 in the NBA champions by year list.
Who Won the 2012 NBA Finals?
The Miami Heat won the series 4-1 as the Eastern Conference champion. The title was the 2nd in franchise history.
2012 NBA Finals Series Result
| Champion | Miami Heat |
|---|---|
| Runner-up | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Series result | Heat win 4-1 |
| Games played | 5 |
| Finals MVP | LeBron James (Miami Heat) |
| Season | 2011-12 |
| League | NBA |
| Trophy | Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy |
| Format | Best-of-seven, 2-3-2 |
Results checked against Basketball-Reference on November 14, 2026.
Who Was the 2012 NBA Finals MVP?
LeBron James of the Miami Heat won the Finals MVP award. Since 2009 the award has been named the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.
How the 2012 NBA Finals Fit in NBA History
- The Finals used the 2-3-2 home-court format that year.
2012 NBA Finals Results: Game by Game
The series ran from June 12 to June 21, 2012, after a lockout cut the regular season to 66 games. Oklahoma City, the No. 2 seed in the West at 47-19, had home-court advantage over Miami, the No. 2 seed in the East at 46-20. The Finals used the 2-3-2 format, so Miami hosted Games 3, 4 and 5.
| Game | Date | Site | Result | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | June 12 | Oklahoma City | Thunder 105, Heat 94 | Thunder lead 1-0 |
| Game 2 | June 14 | Oklahoma City | Heat 100, Thunder 96 | Tied 1-1 |
| Game 3 | June 17 | Miami | Heat 91, Thunder 85 | Heat lead 2-1 |
| Game 4 | June 19 | Miami | Heat 104, Thunder 98 | Heat lead 3-1 |
| Game 5 | June 21 | Miami | Heat 121, Thunder 106 | Heat win 4-1 |
Scores, dates and records checked against the 2012 NBA Finals record on November 14, 2026.
How Did the Heat Beat the Thunder?
Oklahoma City won Game 1 at home as Kevin Durant scored 36. Miami answered with four straight wins. The Heat stole Game 2 in Oklahoma City, then swept the three games in Miami.
- Game 4: Russell Westbrook scored 43 points, the most by any player in the series, but Miami won 104-98. Mario Chalmers added 25 for the Heat.
- Game 5: Mike Miller made 7 of 8 three-pointers for 23 points. Miami’s 14 threes tied the Finals record for one game.
Who Was the 2012 NBA Finals MVP?
LeBron James won his first Finals MVP and his first NBA title, in his ninth season. He averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists and closed the series with a triple-double in Game 5.
Why Do the 2012 NBA Finals Stand Out?
- It was the second title in Heat history, after the 2006 NBA Finals.
- It was Oklahoma City’s first Finals since the franchise moved from Seattle.
- The Thunder’s young core of Durant, Westbrook and James Harden all played in the series. Harden was traded to Houston that October.
- It started a run of four straight Finals for Miami, from 2011 to 2014.
Miami won again in the 2013 NBA Finals against San Antonio. See every title winner on the NBA champions list.
2012 NBA Finals FAQ
Who won the 2012 NBA Finals?
The Miami Heat won the 2012 NBA Finals, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1.
Who were the 2012 NBA champions?
The Miami Heat were the 2012 champions of the NBA.
Who was the 2012 NBA Finals MVP?
LeBron James of the Miami Heat was named Finals MVP.
How many games did the 2012 NBA Finals last?
The series lasted 5 games.
How many championships did the Heat have after 2012?
The 2012 title was the franchise's 2nd championship.
Which season did the 2012 NBA Finals end?
The 2012 NBA Finals closed the 2011-12 season.
How many Finals had the Thunder lost by 2012?
The 2012 series was the franchise's 3rd loss in the Finals.
The 2012 NBA Finals ended with the Heat beating the Thunder 4-1, with LeBron James as Finals MVP. For every champion since 1947, see the NBA champions by year list.