Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shook off a cold start and took over when it mattered most, lifting the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 124-112 victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday night.
After missing his first five shots, Gilgeous-Alexander caught fire, finishing with 29 points as Oklahoma City won its third straight game. The All-NBA guard went 10-for-14 from the field the rest of the way and extended his remarkable streak of scoring at least 20 points to 110 consecutive games.
Jalen Williams added 19 points for the Thunder, while Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell chipped in 16 apiece. Jaylin Williams, playing for the first time since Dec. 13 after recovering from heel bursitis, scored nine points in his return.
Miami, which has now dropped three straight, was led by Andrew Wiggins, who poured in 23 points and knocked down seven 3-pointers. Tyler Herro scored 19 points and Pelle Larsson added 16, but the Heat couldn’t keep pace once Oklahoma City seized control.
The game swung decisively midway through the third quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 points in the period, capping a dominant stretch with a 3-pointer during a 15-0 Thunder run that pushed the lead to 13. After the shot, he pumped his fist while heading back on defense as Miami called timeout, a clear signal that momentum had shifted.
Both teams entered the night ranked among the NBA’s top four in defensive rating, and despite each shooting better than 50% from the field, defense played a central role. Oklahoma City capitalized on Miami’s mistakes, scoring 39 points off 23 Heat turnovers. The Thunder cleaned up their ball security after a sloppy opening, committing just eight turnovers over the final three quarters after giving the ball away five times in the first.
Miami jumped out early, leading by as many as nine points in the first quarter. Oklahoma City responded with a 14-2 run late in the period to reclaim the lead, but the Heat had the final word in the quarter. Wiggins capped the frame by stealing the ball and drilling a corner 3-pointer at the buzzer, trimming the Thunder’s advantage.
The Heat were without Norman Powell, who missed the game with lower back soreness.
The Miami Heat return home to host Phoenix on Tuesday night, while Oklahoma City will also be at home Tuesday to take on San Antonio.
