USA TODAY Sports
Mario Chalmers has 12 points and the Heat lead after the first quarter.
Recent history hasn't been very good for defending NBA champions on Christmas. Last year, the Dallas Mavericks got blown out by the Miami Heat. Two years ago, the Los Angeles Lakers also got blown out by the Heat. But now that the Heat are the defending champions, they seem determined not to suffer the same fate. The Heat scored 13 of the game's first 15 points and lead the Oklahoma City Thunder, 27-24, after one quarter.
Mario Chalmers has been the star for the Heat, pouring in 12 points while hitting two of his three three-point attempts. LeBron James added six points, three rebounds and three assists, controlling the game in all aspects.
The Thunder, meanwhile, struggled with Miami's aggressive trapping defense, coughing it up seven times already. Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have combined for five of those seven turnovers. But the Thunder did rally late in the quarter, going on an 8-0 run to cut Miami's lead to three points.
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