NBA: Miami Heat's LeBron James on the cusp of his first championship

He's been in nearly every imaginable situation over his nine seasons, marked by three MVP awards, three trips to the NBA finals with two teams and one decision that changed everything.

And now this: For the first time, he's one win from a championship.

"I have a job to do," James said Wednesday. "And my job is not done."

The job might get done Thursday night, when the Miami Heat -- up 3-1 in this title series -- hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the finals. Even after leaving Game 4 late with a cramp, James is on the cusp of finally becoming a champ. He was swept in his first finals trip in 2007 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, then he and the Heat fell in the 2011 title series in six games.

After countless ups and downs, the 804th game of his career might be the one that ends his title quest.

"I have no idea what I'll say before we go out there," said James, who got treatment again Wednesday but said soreness that followed the cramps in his left leg was easing. "It kind of just comes to me when I'm getting ready to go out there and stand on the floor. But hopefully whatever I say will inspire our guys to go out and give a good show."

History says the Thunder isn't coming back. No team has overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals. Then again, few have erased a 2-0 deficit in any playoff series, and the Thunder did that just one round ago when it charged past the San Antonio Spurs.

"We didn't get here just to make it here and say we made it to the finals. We want to come in here and we want to try to get a title," Kevin Durant said. "It's all about, keep competing until that last buzzer sounds, and that's what we're going to do. That's the type of city we play for, a city that never gives up. That's the type of team we are."

Trade: The New Orleans Hornets traded forward Trevor Ariza and center Emeka Okafor to the Washington Wizards for forward Rashard Lewis and a second-round draft pick (No. 46 overall). Lewis is entering the last season of a $118 million, six-year contract and could be a candidate for the NBA's amnesty clause, meaning he might not end up playing for the Hornets if they choose to cut him loose in order to clear space under the salary cap.

Magic: Orlando hired Rob Hennigan to be its general manager. Hennigan spent the past four seasons with Oklahoma City, including the past two seasons as the Thunder's assistant general manager/player personnel.