Thunder Fall in Miami Despite Red-Hot Shooting: Extra Possessions Tell the Story
The Oklahoma City Thunder came into Miami riding high on a five-game win streak, looking every bit like the defending champs. With Jalen Williams finally back in the mix and the team clicking on both ends, things were trending up. But by the end of the night, OKC found itself on the wrong end of a frustrating loss - one that had less to do with how well they played and more to do with how many chances they gave the Heat.
Let’s be clear: the Thunder didn’t lose this game because they played poorly. In fact, for most of the night, they looked like a team in full control.
They came out firing, shooting a blistering 71% from the field and 50% from three in the first quarter. That kind of efficiency usually buries teams early, but Miami hung around, trailing by just seven after one despite shooting just 44% from the floor.
And that was the first sign something was off.
When a team shoots the lights out early and doesn’t build a big lead, it usually means one thing: the other team is finding ways to hang around - and that’s dangerous. Shooting percentages tend to cool off, and when they do, the game can flip fast.
Even so, Oklahoma City didn’t exactly cool off. They finished the night shooting 55% from the field and 45% from deep - numbers that almost always translate to a win.
Coming into this game, the Thunder were 9-1 when shooting better than 50%. That’s how rare this loss was.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: MVP Form, Again
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to put together a season that demands MVP consideration. He dropped 39 points on 12-of-19 shooting and was flawless from the line, going 13-for-13.
Whenever the Thunder needed a bucket, Shai delivered. He bent Miami’s defense all night, slithering into the paint, hitting tough mid-range shots, and making life miserable for defenders.
But even Shai couldn’t overcome a couple of crucial late-game calls.
With 1:14 left and the Thunder up by three, Shai was called for an offensive foul that wiped out a critical possession. It was a borderline call at best - one that drew immediate frustration from the Thunder bench and even more from the broadcast booth. In a one-possession game, that moment loomed large.
Then, with just over three seconds left, Chet Holmgren pulled down a rebound that gave OKC one last shot to tie or win. But as he secured the ball, he took a shot to the face - no whistle.
That could’ve meant two free throws and a chance to send the game to overtime. Instead, play continued, and the Thunder’s final look didn’t fall.
We’ll wait to see what the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report says, but those were two pivotal moments that could’ve swung this game the other way.
Jalen Williams Injury Halts His Return Momentum
Jalen Williams had been a difference-maker since returning from his wrist injury, and early on in this one, he looked sharp again. He had 8 points in 14 minutes before exiting late in the second quarter with what the team later called a thigh injury. Losing JDub mid-game clearly hurt - his ability to create, defend, and stretch the floor is a vital piece of OKC’s balanced attack.
Chet Holmgren: Quietly Dominant on Defense
Chet Holmgren turned in another quietly dominant defensive performance: 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks. That’s now 11 straight games with at least two blocks - a stretch that’s becoming routine for the rookie big man. His timing, positioning, and rim protection have been elite, and he’s making a legitimate case for Defensive Player of the Year.
Holmgren’s impact goes beyond the box score - he alters shots, controls the glass, and gives OKC a defensive backbone that few teams can match.
The Real Story: Possessions, Possessions, Possessions
So how does a team shoot 55% from the field and still lose?
Simple: they don’t get enough shots.
Miami completely flipped the game by dominating the possession battle. The Heat grabbed 21 offensive rebounds to OKC’s 5 - a staggering +16 edge.
That alone is enough to tilt a game, but it didn’t stop there. Miami also protected the ball, committing just 4 turnovers compared to 17 by the Thunder.
That’s another +13 in possessions.
Add it all up, and Miami took 111 shots to OKC’s 77. That’s 34 more attempts - an almost unheard-of gap in a modern NBA game.
Even shooting just 37% from the field, the Heat had so many extra chances that they were able to outpace a Thunder team that was otherwise highly efficient.
Final Takeaway
This one stings for Oklahoma City, not because they played poorly, but because they got outworked in the margins. They shot the ball well, got to the line, moved the ball, and defended at a high level. But they gave Miami too many second chances and didn’t take care of the ball.
That’s not Thunder basketball - at least not the version we saw during their championship run. Back then, OKC could win games shooting 35% because they controlled possessions, forced turnovers, and pounded the glass.
On this night, it was Miami who played like the Thunder.
And that made all the difference.