The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their hot streak, defeating the Miami Heat 104-97 on Friday night for their seventh straight victory. Behind a season-high 33 points from Jalen Williams and 25 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder improved to 22-5, claiming the second-best record in the NBA and the top spot in the Western Conference.
Despite coming off a setback in the NBA Cup final against Milwaukee, the Thunder showed no signs of slowing down. Lu Dort added 14 points, while Isaiah Hartenstein dominated the boards with 18 rebounds and chipped in 13 points.
The Miami Heat faced adversity early as Jimmy Butler exited in the first quarter due to illness. Tyler Herro led the charge for Miami with 28 points and 12 rebounds, while Bam Adebayo added 17 points and 10 rebounds despite a brief scare in the third quarter. Adebayo required seven stitches after being elbowed by teammate Jaime Jaquez Jr. but returned to the game.
Jalen Williams continues to shine, surpassing his previous season-high of 31 points. Oklahoma City capitalized on Miami’s mistakes, turning 19 Heat turnovers into 27 points.
Amid the loss, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra highlighted the Hall of Fame candidacies of team owner Micky Arison and Ruth Riley Hunter. Spoelstra expressed strong support for both, particularly Riley Hunter’s historic achievements at the college, pro, and Olympic levels.
The turning point came midway through the third quarter when the Thunder trailed by three. A 10-0 run ignited Oklahoma City’s push, and they entered the fourth quarter with an 11-point lead, which they never relinquished.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak of scoring 25 or more points to 17 consecutive games, the longest in the NBA this season. Miami’s Tyler Herro notched his eighth double-double of the season.
The Thunder will look to extend their winning streak when they host the Washington Wizards on Monday. Meanwhile, the Heat face a quick turnaround as they visit the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
Oklahoma City’s dominance continues to impress, with Jalen Williams emerging as a key contributor alongside their All-Star, Gilgeous-Alexander. For Miami, health and resilience will be critical as they navigate a challenging stretch without Jimmy Butler.
