OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City has been thunderstruck by the success of its NBA franchise.
Oklahomans are, for the time being, forgetting their loyalties to their Bedlam rival and Golden Hurricane college teams.
The Thunder open the NBA finals against the Miami Heat at home on Tuesday.
The city is decked out in the blue-and-orange team colors, and one business has put up a giant beard on its facade as a tribute to Thunder guard James Harden.
The Thunder began playing in Oklahoma City in 2008, after moving from Seattle. The Thunder was one of the league's worst teams four years ago, but has been successful since. They lost in the Western Conference finals last year to the Dallas Mavericks, before defeating Dirk Nowitzki and company en route to the championship round this year.