Heat vs. Thunder Takeaways: Jimmy Butler, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Battle Until Final Buzzer

A look at five of the biggest takeaways from the Miami Heat's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder

Author:
Anthony Pasciolla
Mar 8, 2024 10:33 PM EST

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The Miami Heat showed promise on Friday night against the No. 2 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, but came up short 107-100.

Here's a look at five major takeaways:

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jimmy Butler battled until the final buzzer.

Butler is one of the NBA's top postseason performers while Alexander is a strong contender to win the MVP this season. In Friday's showcase, the stars contributed at a high level for their teams. The Heat forward tallied 20 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists on 8 of 16 shooting. Meanwhile, Alexander scored 37 points, along with six assists and five rebounds. Down the stretch, Alexander took over on the offensive end, scoring 10 of the Thunder's final 12 points. The OKC guard heard MVP chants pour in from the crowd as he nailed the game-sealing free throw.

2. Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s powerful scoring show wasn't enough to result in a victory.

The rookie forward out of UCLA has dominated when given the chance in the Heat's crowded forward room. In Jaquez's 31 minutes of action, he thrived with 25 points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals on 76.9 percent shooting. His talent will have a major impact on the Heat's playoff success.

3. Patty Mills displayed a game-altering impact in his Heat debut.

The veteran guard signed with the team a few days ago, but is wasting no time making his presence known. His debut wrapped up with 13 points and two rebounds on 71.4 percent shooting and 3 of 4 shooting from the arc. Mills was brought in for his ability to knock down three-pointers as well as his veteran leadership, which each showed in his first game.

4. Bam Adebayo's matchup with Chet Holmgren left much to be desired.

Two of the league's top defensive big men went head-to-head on Friday but left fans longing for more. Adebayo finished the night with five points on 1 of 9 shooting in 30 minutes while Holmgren scored seven on 33.3 percent shooting. The Heat All-Star center added 10 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks to his stat line. If Adebayo can consistently score 20 points, the Heat are tooled to thrive the rest of the year.

5. Terry Rozier and Duncan Robinson's inconsistencies were highlighted after triumphant performances.

Following Rozier's best night in a Heat uniform against the Dallas Mavericks, he failed to find success against the Thunder. The 29-year-old guard concluded the evening with 14 points and four assists on 6 of 14 shooting. Robinson's greatest critique this season is his inconsistencies on the offensive end. Tonight was a prime example, as he scored nine points on 3 of 8 shooting from three-point range. However, both guards played a key part in the Heat's fourth quarter comeback attempt.