Myron Gardner Brings the Spark as Heat Outlast Thunder in Team Effort Win
Saturday night in Miami wasn’t just about Bam Adebayo’s dominance-it was about the kind of depth and energy that championship-caliber teams rely on when the stars need a lift. The Heat’s win over the Oklahoma City Thunder was a total team effort, and while Adebayo put together a career night, it was the burst off the bench from two-way rookie Myron Gardner that had everyone talking postgame.
Asked Norman Powell about the impact Myron Gardner had:
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) January 18, 2026
“Myron is a character, I love Myron. He’s always high energy, high octane…he’s encouraging everybody, he has everybody laughing and joking around, but when he steps out there, he goes 125%, 150% every time…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/2Ufy8RSgU1
If you haven’t heard much about Gardner yet, that’s understandable. He’s one of Miami’s three two-way players, spending most of his season grinding in the G League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. But when opportunity knocks in the NBA, it doesn’t always knock twice-and Gardner answered like a player who’s been waiting his whole life for the moment.
Logging just his fourth game of double-digit minutes this season, Gardner made every second count. He checked in during the second quarter and wasted no time making an impact.
Known for his energy, Gardner’s hustle quickly translated to production-drilling three straight three-pointers on consecutive possessions. He finished the night with 11 points, five rebounds, and a +6 in just under 15 minutes of action.
“He’s pouring energy,” said veteran guard Norman Powell. “He came in with a physicality… that energy is infectious.”
That kind of spark off the bench isn’t just helpful-it’s necessary, especially for a Heat team battling through injuries and looking for consistency. With Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Davion Mitchell out, Miami needed someone to seize the moment. Gardner did just that, proving he’s more than just a developmental project.
And it’s not just what Gardner does on the floor-it’s the way he carries himself. Bam Adebayo, who dropped 30 points and grabbed 12 boards in the win, couldn’t say enough about what Gardner brings to the locker room.
Bam Adebayo on the “kid energy” that Myron Gardner has after standout outing:
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) January 18, 2026
“I can't describe Myron, but you need teammates like him. Throw him in the game & he's going to play as hard as possible.. when Myron checks in the game, you instantly feel a difference…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/h8RR8FaOqx
“Myron is our energy,” Adebayo said. “I don’t know how to really describe Myron.
Comments from Myron Gardner after his standout outing against the Thunder.
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) January 18, 2026
Spoke how he was taught to play with high energy:
“We’re going to war, so it’s do or die in battle…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/TaF7NTlXmt
You just have to hang around him. He’s got that kid energy-you know, the kind where you’re like, ‘I wish I had that much energy.’
That’s him. You throw him in the game, and he’s going to play as hard as possible.”
Adebayo went even further, emphasizing how Gardner changes the feel of the game the moment he steps on the court.
“When Myron checks in, you instantly feel a difference,” he said. “He’s going to compete, he’s going to defend, he’s going to foul-he’s going to do whatever it takes.
You need someone like that on your roster. He can spark the arena, the bench, the coaches.
He did that tonight.”
Gardner’s journey to that moment on Saturday was anything but typical. He was in Sioux Falls just hours before tipoff, waking up at 3 a.m. to catch a pair of flights to make it to Miami in time for the game.
That kind of grind? It’s not lost on his teammates or the coaching staff.
“It was wild,” Gardner said. “I woke up at 3 a.m. this morning-took two flights to get here.”
And yet, despite the travel, the lack of rest, and the limited minutes he’s seen this season, Gardner stepped in and helped turn the tide. Miami was down 12 when he checked in. By the time he was done, the Heat had clawed back, and the momentum had shifted.
Gardner credits the team’s trust in him for fueling his confidence.
“It gave me confidence when they trusted to put me in the game,” he said. “So when I’m out there, I just gotta keep proving myself. I’ve been working my whole life.”
That work ethic is exactly the kind of thing Heat culture is built on. Whether Gardner’s logging real minutes or waving a towel on the sideline, his presence is felt. And with Miami sitting at 22-20 and heading into a five-game road trip that starts Monday against the Golden State Warriors, every ounce of energy, every hustle play, and every spark off the bench matters.
Gardner may be the 10th man on the roster, but on nights like this, he’s the heartbeat.