LeBron James is one win away from his first National Basketball Association championship after his Miami Heat beat the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder 104-98 Tuesday.

James led Miami with 26 points, including a three-point shot late in the fourth quarter that snapped a 94-94 tie and put the Heat in the lead for good, despite suffering a painful leg injury moments earlier. He sat out the rest of the game on the bench, finishing with 12 assists and nine rebounds.

Teammates Dwayne Wade and Mario Chalmers finished with 25 points each.

The young Oklahoma City squad squandered a brilliant 43-point effort from Russell Westbrook, while teammate Kevin Durant added 28 points. The Thunder raced out to a 17-point first quarter lead, but could not maintain the pace against the more experienced Heat.

The win gives Miami a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, and they can clinch the title with a win on their home court Thursday night in game five.