The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder hope they’re turning a nook after a tough stretch.
Heading into their dwelling sport on Sunday towards the Miami Warmth, Thunder star Jalen Williams mentioned he felt just like the workforce had discovered some classes. They’ve received 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 obtained a little bit comfy 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 successful the video games,” Williams mentioned. “… I do not suppose we had been going in regards to the course of the best 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 a giant 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 very good job of getting again to who we’re,” Williams mentioned of the way in which the Thunder closed that victory.
Oklahoma Metropolis pulled off that victory with no 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 sport.
The Thunder may have key reserve Jaylin Williams obtainable 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 ranking — factors allowed per 100 possessions — whereas Miami is fourth at 111.8.
“They play protection,” Williams mentioned of the Warmth. “They play protection how we do. They’re bodily, they play laborious. All people out there may be prideful about protection and that speaks so much 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 workforce may be very excessive,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “It is a fantastic workforce to check your self towards. I like after we play towards them as a result of it is a sport that you must earn in case you get it; in case you do not, they’re going to train you a lesson.”
Sunday’s sport 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 highway journey, together with a 123-99 loss to the Pacers on Saturday.
Miami will probably be searching for 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 mentioned, “however we need to have a greater model of ourselves when it comes to 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 attributable to an damage to his proper massive toe.
“We have to maintain working at it,” Herro mentioned. “… All of us need to make it work. We have simply obtained to make it work.”
–Area Stage Media
