Heat's Bosh plays "sensational" game as a starter

By Steve Ginsburg

OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - Chris Bosh's return to the starting line-up is a key reason the Miami Heat are headed home tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, the team's coach said.

Bosh, the sometimes forgotten player of the Heat's Big Three, had 15 points and 16 rebounds in Thursday's 100-96 victory and was the cornerstone of Miami's 48-32 advantage in points in the paint.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called Bosh's performance "sensational" as he prepares for Sunday's Game Three in South Beach with the best-of-seven National Basketball Association (NBA) title series tied at once game apiece.

Bosh strained an abdominal muscle against Indiana in the Eastern Conference semi-final and has been working his way back by coming off the bench.

Spoelstra said the veteran forward did not have to utter a word in practice to indicate he was ready to return to the starting line-up.

"I brought the first group out, and I said, 'Okay, get the red team out here and let's walk through a couple things,'" recalled Spoelstra.

"And Chris walked right out and put his head under the rim, and so that told me what we were doing (Thursday) in terms of starting him. And he gave us a lot in the paint.

"And we need that again and again and again."