Oklahoma City Thunder Knock Off Miami Heat
After letting Miami hang around just long enough to feel good about themselves, the Oklahoma City Thunder flipped the switch, riding a tidal wave of a third quarter to a 124-112 victory at the Paycom Center.
This wasn’t just another notch in the win column. This was a statement. It was the kind of performance that makes opposing coaches lose sleep, and fans start frantically googling playoff bracket scenarios in January. Here are three big-time takeaways from a night where the Thunder reminded everyone why they’re the team nobody wants to see in a seven-game series.
1. The MVP Case Just Got Louder
Let’s talk about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He started the game 1-of-6 from the floor with a measly 3 points in the first quarter. If you were just box-score watching early on, you might have thought that it was not his night. But greatness doesn’t panic. It adjusts.
SGA decided enough was enough. He proceeded to hit 10 straight shots. It was basketball nirvana. He sliced through Miami’s defense like a hot knife through butter, finishing with 29 points and dishing out 8 assists despite seeing double teams that were more crowded than a subway car at rush hour. He’s now dropped 20+ points in 109 consecutive games, creeping closer to an NBA record.
2. A Third Quarter Thunderstorm
If the first half was a boxing match where both fighters were feeling each other out, the third quarter was a knockout blow. The Thunder came out of the locker room and absolutely blitzed the Heat.
We’re talking a 32-10 run. It was suffocating. It was beautiful. It was terrifying if you were wearing a Miami jersey.
The energy was infectious. You saw guys diving for loose balls, forcing turnovers, and sprinting in transition like they were late for a flight. The three-point shooting, which has been a struggle lately, finally decided to show up. OKC shot a blistering 5-of-11 from deep to start the second half.
The Paycom Center was rocking, and you could feel the collective spirit of the team lift. It was the kind of quarter that reminds you why this young squad is so dangerous.
3. J-Dub Is Officially Back
Jalen Williams has had a rough go of it lately. Two wrist surgeries in the offseason are no joke, and getting that rhythm back takes time. But on Sunday night, he looked like the J-Dub we know and love.
He followed up a strong showing against Memphis with another gem: 18 points on an incredibly efficient 9-of-13 shooting. But it wasn’t just the scoring. It was the aggression. He was cutting to the rim with purpose, absorbing contact, and finishing strong.
Seeing his wrist look comfortable, and his shot mechanics smooth, is arguably more important than the final score for the long-term hopes of this franchise. When Williams is playing like this, the Thunder offense goes from very good to unstoppable.
