Fans, police preparing for possible Heat win

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Miami Heat fans are ready to celebrate, and now police are preparing for a possible NBA Championship celebration Thursday night.

The Heat are just one win away from winning the championship, and South Florida fans are clearly excited.

At stores like Sports Authority, Heat gear is flying off the shelves. Chris Young, a manager at Sports Authority, said, "Locker rooms, shirts, jerseys, everything we have is going."

"I'm buying a new plate for the back of my tag, and two new flags, because the other ones are worn out from the whole season," said Heat fan Sylvia Alvalez, who immediately attached the flags to her car after she purchased them.

As fans get ready for Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, authorities are also preparing for the fan mania. "The key word is not 'if,' it's 'when' we win, whether it be tomorrow or Game 6 or Game 7," said Miami Police Sergeant Freddie Cruz.

Miami Police spent the day Wednesday preparing an assist by shutting down Biscayne Boulevard near the arena. Authorities will also have 60 extra patrol officers on standby, just in case there is a celebration Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Hialeah Police will have 40 extra officers on duty on game night to control the crowds, should there be any. Hialeah Police Detective Carl Zogby said, "We want to make sure the traffic keeps moving, nobody acts silly. We don't want people jumping on cars, or cars traveling with people climbing on top of cars. That's dangerous."

Authorities said their show of force is to ensure that everyone has a good time, not to make arrests.

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