Streaking Thunder focused on themselves as they visit Heat
After two straight losses earlier this month, the Oklahoma City Thunder seem to be back on track.
The Thunder, the defending NBA champions and league leaders at 35-7, take their deep and talented roster to Miami to face the Heat on Saturday night.
Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was happy to see the Thunder right the ship, especially in a 119-98 win Tuesday over the San Antonio Spurs, who beat Oklahoma City three times in December. The Thunder made it five straight wins by trouncing the Houston Rockets 111-91 on the road Thursday.
"When we play a certain way, with a sense of urgency, force, aggressiveness and attention to detail, it doesn't matter who's on the other side," said Gilgeous-Alexander, who ranks second in the NBA with a 31.6 scoring average. "It's never about the other team. We've gotten to where we are because we're focused on ourselves."
Besides Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder rely on Chet Holmgren (17.9 points, 8.4 rebounds per game) and Jalen Williams (17.2 points, 5.7 assists). Williams tallied 10 assists to offset a poor shooting night in the Houston game.
Isaiah Hartenstein, who joined the Thunder last season, has not played since Dec. 28 due to a calf injury and will remain out Saturday. The Thunder's regular starting center can score (11.2 ppg), rebound (team-high 10.4 per game) and pass (3.0 assists).
Also part of Oklahoma City's ensemble cast are two defensive terrors: Cason Wallace (team-high 2.2 steals) and Alex Caruso (NBA first-team All-Defense in 2022-23 and 2023-24).
As for matching up against the Heat, the Thunder are expecting a battle.
"Every game feels like a rivalry because we're defending champs, and teams are throwing their best punches at us," Williams said.
The Heat took some blows on Thursday night as they lost to the visiting Boston Celtics, 119-114.
Miami reached its official halfway point of the season with a 21-20 record, a mark that does not sit well with the Heat.
"We're a better team than our record," said Norman Powell, who leads Miami with a 23.9 scoring average. "We're just not completing enough games where we're playing a full 48 minutes collectively."
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said that the play of first-round draft pick Kasparas Jakucionis was one of Miami's "bright spots" in the loss to Boston.
In 27 minutes off the bench, Jakucionis scored 12 points on 3-for-4 shooting from 3-point range and 3-of-4 from the line. He added a team-high eight assists and five rebounds. For the season, he's averaging 4.3 points in just 13.8 minutes per game.
"He's been ready every time he's been given an opportunity, and he gives us something different," Spoelstra said of Jakucionis. "He's fearless, he makes plays and he keeps getting better."
Jakucionis was given extended run on Thursday in part because the Heat were missing two players who are listed as day-to-day: starting point guard Davion Mitchell (shoulder injury) and top reserve Jaime Jaquez Jr. (knee). Both Mitchell and Jaquez have been ruled out for Saturday.
Miami's top players, other than Powell, are shooting guard Tyler Herro (21.9 points); and power forward Bam Adebayo (17.0 points, 9.5 rebounds).