The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder hope they’re turning a nook after a tough stretch.
Heading into their dwelling recreation on Sunday in opposition to the Miami Warmth, Thunder star Jalen Williams stated he felt just like the crew had discovered some classes. They’ve gained two consecutive video games, popping out of their latest 6-6 stretch after an unbelievable 24-1 begin. Oklahoma Metropolis nonetheless has the very best file within the NBA.
“We nearly bought just a little snug in a method the place you are simply beating groups and anticipating to win and we did not have, I might say, sufficient humility or humbleness going about how we had been profitable the video games,” Williams stated. “… I do not assume we had been going concerning the course of the correct method the final couple video games.”
That discomfort with the strategy prolonged into an additional time win on Wednesday over Utah after which by way of an enormous a part of a 117-116 win on Friday in Memphis.
Oklahoma Metropolis fell behind by 21 early within the third quarter earlier than clawing again to win.
“I feel we did a extremely good job of getting again to who we’re,” Williams stated of the way in which the Thunder closed that victory.
Oklahoma Metropolis pulled off that victory with out a trio of starters, together with reigning Most Precious Participant Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, who’s making a push for what can be his first All-Star look.
Each are anticipated to play Sunday, whereas Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) stays sidelined for the eighth consecutive recreation.
The Thunder could have key reserve Jaylin Williams accessible for the primary time since Dec. 13 after he missed 13 video games with heel bursitis.
The Thunder-Warmth matchup will showcase two of the very best defenses within the league.
Oklahoma Metropolis leads the NBA with a 105.4 defensive score — factors allowed per 100 possessions — whereas Miami is fourth at 111.8.
“They play protection,” Williams stated of the Warmth. “They play protection how we do. They’re bodily, they play arduous. Everyone out there’s prideful about protection and that speaks loads to that group.”
Miami hasn’t crushed Oklahoma Metropolis since January 2023, however the Warmth have not made it simple on the Thunder.
“The bar with that crew could be very excessive,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “It is an ideal crew to check your self in opposition to. I like after we play in opposition to them as a result of it is a recreation that it’s a must to earn should you get it; should you do not, they will train you a lesson.”
Sunday’s recreation is the primary of two between the groups this season, with the opposite coming in simply six days in Miami.
The Warmth have misplaced back-to-back video games to begin their three-game street journey, together with a 123-99 loss to the Pacers on Saturday.
Miami can be in search of a greater begin, after falling behind 36-12 simply 10 minutes into the loss at Indiana.
“We need to get again on the market,” Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra stated, “however we need to have a greater model of ourselves by way of mentality, ardour, connectivity, all that stuff that is put us in place to win video games this 12 months.”
The Warmth are nonetheless seeking to discover some cohesiveness among the many starters after two video games for the reason that return of Tyler Herro from an prolonged absence as a consequence of an harm to his proper huge toe.
“We have got to maintain working at it,” Herro stated. “… All of us need to make it work. We have simply bought to make it work.”
–Area Stage Media
