MIAMI – A first quarter run did the requisite damage. It was a concerted effort and focus to stay with it that helped the Thunder maintain control throughout the next three quarters, and the team was rewarded with a 106-94 victory over the Miami Heat.
It was an 18-16 Thunder led with just under four minutes to go in the first quarter when the Thunder had a possession that lasted 33 seconds thanks to three offensive rebounds – one by Alex Abrines and two by Steven Adams, who capped off the play with a put-back dunk. That play sparked a 15-3 burst to close out the first quarter, giving the Thunder the margin it needed for victory.
Enes Kanter checked in seconds later and the Thunder put him right to work. The Turkish center scored six of the final eight points of the period in one-on-one coverage, allowing his team to take control of the game flow.
“We were balanced,” Head Coach Billy Donovan said. “Enes got going again. We got him the ball in some good areas of the floor and he made some good decisions. Jerami Grant played really well in that first half. He had some slashes and dunks. We rebounded and got out on the break. Offensively and defensively that was a great closing quarter for us, the way we played.”
“It was overall focus on the task at hand,” point guard Russell Westbrook said. “You could easily come into a game where they’re shorthanded guys and kind of go through the motions. Our team did a great job of focusing in on what we do as a team and came in and put our foot down early.”
Kanter finished with 19 points, Grant had 10 and the Thunder reserves scored 46 total points on the night, just one of the many statistical factors that went in the Thunder’s favor. Oklahoma City out-rebounded the Heat 46-32 and outscored Miami 17-5 in second chance points, 16-4 in fast break points and 16-10 in points off turnovers. The most telling number, however, was points in the paint.
The Thunder had a whopping 40 of them in the first half and finished with a 58-32 edge in that department. Running offense through Kanter and Adams has paid major dividends for the Thunder’s offensive rhythm because it allowed for cuts to the rim and spot up three-point shots when the Heat brought a second defender over to help on the Thunder centers.
“We play through our bigs, especially in the second unit,” shooting guard Anthony Morrow noted. “Those guys do a great job and they’re willing passers as well.”
And what about the times Miami decided not to double team?
“That’s a bucket. They’re going to score,” Morrow chuckled. “They’re so efficient down there.”
One of the major beneficiaries of the Thunder’s inside outside game has been Abrines, the rookie Spaniard. At the beginning of the season he was mostly seen knocking down catch-and-shoot jumpers. Over the past few weeks his repertoire has grown – he’s running off of screens, curling into open space for jumpers and even putting the ball on the floor for floaters and slashing drives. Tonight he finished with 14 points and 5-of-9 shooting in 22 minutes.
“(Abrines) is getting more comfortable. He’s been able to read the game at a different level,” Westbrook raved. “The more and more he plays, the more he learns about himself, what he’s able to do on the basketball court and where he can find his shots.”
Miami didn’t score at a high rate throughout the night, shooting just 43.9 percent and knocking down only seven three-pointers, but all of those long distance buckets seemed to double as momentum stoppers for the Thunder. Despite building a 22-point lead, the Thunder couldn’t quite put this one away for good, but found ways to shut the door down the stretch.
Westbrook rose high above centers and power forwards for defensive rebounds near the rim, then burst out of the gates like a triple-crown racehorse. Somehow, the heat-seeking missile managed to beat the other nine players down the court on multiple occasions for layups that helped the Thunder keep the scoreboard moving in the fourth quarter.
A product of simply the way he plays, Westbrook completed his 15th triple-double of the season, giving him 30 in the 2016 calendar year, with a 29-point, 17-rebound, 11-assist show. The play of the night for Westbrook, however, came with 2:23 to go in the game, with the Thunder up 105-92 and trying to close the game out. The 6-foot-9 James Johnson came crashing down the lane with the ball and Westbrook stood in there to draw a charge, a selfless play that brought finality to the night.
“Closing out games is key for us, especially in the fourth quarter,” Westbrook said. “It’s just doing whatever you have to do to put your body on the line for your teammates and help them win. That’s what I try to do throughout games, to try to find my way to have an impact on the game.”
Highlights: Thunder at Heat - Dec. 27, 2016
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By the Numbers
15 – Triple-doubles for Russell Westbrook on the season after a 29-point, 17-rebound, 11-assist performance
46 – Bench points for the Thunder tonight, led by Enes Kanter’s 19, Alex Abrines’ 14 and Jerami Grant’s 10 points.
58-32 – The Thunder’s advantage in points in the paint, including 40 such points in the first half alone- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Last Word
“We just knew if we sustained our defensive effort and made multiple defensive efforts, we’d be okay.” – guard Anthony Morrow