Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder earn a 107-100 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday in Oklahoma City.
It was the ninth victory in 11 games for the Thunder, who swept the two-game series against the Heat.
It was the Thunder’s first victory against Miami in Oklahoma City since March 2018.
The Heat have lost consecutive games after winning seven of eight.
Miami led by 10 at halftime Friday but the Thunder dominated the third quarter to take control.
The win was Oklahoma City’s league-leading 14th after trailing by double digits.
The Heat led 65-51 early in the third before Josh Giddey hit a 3-point basket to spark a 17-0 Oklahoma City run that put the Thunder back in front.
Gilgeous-Alexander was in the middle of the stretch, finding Giddey for the first 3-pointer, rushing for a steal from Duncan Robinson and hitting a step-back shot on the other end, hitting two more shots down the stretch before finally finding Jalen. Williams for a 3-pointer to put the Thunder ahead 68-65.
The Heat cut the deficit to one three times in the fourth quarter, but could not overcome Oklahoma City’s third-quarter surge.
The Heat missed seven straight shots and committed five turnovers during the decisive stretch, while Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 in the third. Miami shot just 29.4 percent from the floor in the third after shooting 50 percent in the first half.
The Thunder finished with 28 assists and just nine turnovers – two after halftime.
The Heat rallied in the fourth, making 11 of 21 from the field, but Gilgeous-Alexander helped the Thunder maintain control.
Patty Mills quickly made a significant impact in her debut with the Heat, days after signing with the team.
Mills helped Miami take a 10-point halftime lead with 11 points in the second quarter on 4-of-5 shooting. The veteran finished with 13 points in less than 16 minutes.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. led Miami with 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting while Jimmy Butler added 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
–Field Media/Reuters
