Three Takeaways From Oklahoma City's Second Straight Win Over the Miami Heat
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The Oklahoma City Thunder entered Friday with a relatively clean slate.
After a 2-2 road trip, capping it off in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, the Thunder's return home for its next four games was timely as they stumbled to the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers on the road.
And with their first matchup coming against the Miami Heat, it was a victory that had to be grinned out.
107-100 the final score, the Thunder were anchored by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 37 and some effortful bench play.
Now, sitting at 44-19, Oklahoma City has retook the first seed as the season's home stretch is ramping up.
Let's take a look at a few takeaways from Oklahoma City's Friday night win:
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SGA's Whole Life is Consistent
"My whole life is consistent," Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame.
I wouldn't dispute that. Because if any person was to have world-class consistency in their day-to-day routine, it'd be the NBA superstar who puts up 30-plus point games in his sleep
On Friday night, notching another 30-plus point performance with 37 on 13-of-25 shooting, it marked the 47th game of scoring 30 or more for the 25-year-old. This ties a franchise record, and will more than likely get broken in less than a week.
He'd also generate two blocks and a steal while helping seal the Thunder win with a massive 3-pointer with less than two minutes to play in the game.
"When it comes down to it, to me, it's not a big shot, it's just another shot."
Thunder Suppress Miami in Second Half
After tough shooting half from Oklahoma City to begin the game, the Heat's overwhelming physicality and effort were outdoing the Thunder to its eventual 10-point advantage to enter the second half.
A blistering 17 first-half points from Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the way for Miami, as Oklahoma City had an uphill climb in the final 24 minutes.
It was Gilgeous-Alexander who'd answered the call, as he along with Jalen Williams would help cut that seemingly narrow deficit completely away in the third quarter and ultimately build on their own lead.
A 77-73 advantage to enter the final frame, the Thunder were now in a good spot, but they knew they couldn't get complacent.
In the fourth, a 12-point scoring burst from Gilgeous-Alexander had helped pad their lead just a bit. But only up four with less than a minute to go, Williams was able to tranquilize a surging Miami team with a basket to put the Thunder up six with under 40 seconds to play.
The Heat couldn't bridge the gap in that short amoun
OKC Swoops in to Retake Top Spot in Western Conference
As Oklahoma City and Miami were battling it out in Bricktown, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers were duking it out in Cleveland.
It's felt like the whole season that Minnesota and Oklahoma City have been swapping the first and second seeds with the Denver Nuggets hovering around them.
And as the Thunder were able to take care of business down the stretch with Gilgeous-Alexander's massive fourth quarter, they were able to retake the No. 1 seed in the West from the Timberwolves once again, with Minnesota falling to Cleveland shortly after.
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