NBA: Jalen Williams leads road-weary Thunder past Heat
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) and center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) celebrate during a timeout during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Jalen Williams scored a season-high 33 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 25 as the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder withstood a fourth-quarter rally to beat the Miami Heat 104-97 in the NBA on Friday.
Luguentz Dort had 14 points and Isaiah Hartenstein scored 13 points and matched his season high with 18 rebounds for the Thunder, who recorded their seventh consecutive official victory. (The team’s NBA Cup final loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday doesn’t count in the league standings.)
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Williams scored Oklahoma City’s first nine points in the fourth quarter to give the Thunder a 90-80 lead, but Miami battled back and cut the deficit to 101-95 on Tyler Herro’s 3-pointer with 1:14 remaining.
Jalen "JDub" Williams was on a roll for the OKC Thunder in their 7th straight W!⛈️
33 PTS | 6 REB | 4 AST | 4 3PM#NBAHighlights #NBAPhilippines pic.twitter.com/ID3RPWfvv4
— NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) December 21, 2024
The Heat’s Bam Adebayo made one of two free throws with 45.7 seconds left to make it a five-point game before the Thunder secured the victory at the foul line.
Herro led Miami with 28 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. Adebayo had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Duncan Robinson and Dru Smith added 13 apiece.
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Heat star Jimmy Butler headed to the locker room with 4:41 left in the opening quarter and did not return due to illness.
Oklahoma City was playing its third game away home in four nights, all in different cities. Miami lost its second straight game following a four-game win streak.
The Thunder shot 57.1 percent from the field in the first quarter and led 30-25 at the end of the period.
Oklahoma City led throughout the second quarter and took a 50-47 edge into halftime. Miami shot 5 of 20 (25 percent) from 3-point range before the break.
After the Thunder extended their lead to 58-49, Smith and Haywood Highsmith hit back-to-back 3-pointers during a 12-0 run to help put the Heat ahead 61-58 with 7:25 left in the third quarter.
Oklahoma City charged back in front, then held an 81-70 advantage after closing the third quarter on an 8-2 run. Adebayo received seven stitches above his left eye after briefly heading to the locker room during the third quarter.
Miami committed 19 turnovers in the loss and shot 30 percent (12 of 40) from 3-point range. Robinson and Herro were a combined 6 of 21 from beyond the arc. –Field Level Media
