A two-way player who energized Miami in a stunning win over the Thunder

MIAMI – Like The Miami Heat had a huge win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, was created as a collaborative effort with many contributions from stars and players. Doc Heat captain Bam Adebayo had a career game against the Thunderthere were also exceptional outbursts of players, such as Myron Gardner.

For those unfamiliar, Gardner is one of Miami’s three two-way players, having spent much of the season developing with the team’s South Dakota G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He has played in 14 games this season for the Heat, and Saturday marked the fourth game in which he has logged double-digit minutes, this time logging 14 minutes, 38 seconds of action.

It started when Gardner entered in the second quarter, where his impact was felt early on as he was known to bring energy, but it turned into an offensive performance, hitting three 3-pointers in three straight possessions. He scored 11 points, five rebounds and +6 on the floor.

Being the 10th man for Miami, his “contagious” of energy, as described by Norman Powellhe helped the team win over the Thunder.

“Myron is a character. I love Myron. He’s always high energy, high octane,” Powell told ClutchPoints after scoring 19 points in the win. “He always runs up and runs into you; there’s always a positive energy, a positive light coming from him. I encourage everybody. Everybody’s laughing and joking. But when he steps out there, he goes 125%, 150% every time. And we need that.”

“He pours energy … he came physical,” Powell continued. “He missed a few shots. But that physicality and energy that he brings to the game, I think it’s really contagious to everybody.”

Asked Norman Powell about the influence Myron Gardner had:

“Myron’s a character, I love Myron. He’s always energetic, high octane…he’s encouraging, he’s got everybody laughing and joking, but when he goes out, he goes 125%, 150% every time…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/2Ufi8RSgU1

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) January 18, 2026

Bam Adebayo on the “kid energy” Myron Gardner brings to the Heat

With some Beginners show off their impressive skillslike Kasparas Yakutsionis, Gardner looks to take advantage of limited minutes and capitalize on opportunity, especially with Jaima Yakuez Jr. out. and Davion Mitchell. Even when he’s not on the field, his presence and energy are felt on the bench, which team captain Bam Adebayo describes as “child energy.”

“Myron is our energy,” Adebayo said after posting 30 points and 12 rebounds. “I don’t know how to describe Myron. You just have to hang around him. He just has that kid energy. You know, the kids that run around all day and you always look at them like, ‘I wish I had that much energy.’ He is it. I can’t describe Myron, but like you, you need teammates like him, like put him in the game, and he’s going to play as hard as he can.”

“But when Myron checks into the game, you feel the difference right away, like he’s going to compete, he’s going to compete, he’s going to play hard, he’s going to defend, he’s going to foul,” Adebayo continued. “But like I said, you need somebody like that on the roster because he can spark, like the energy of the arena, the players on the field, the coaching staff, like he has that kind of energy where he can challenge us, and he did that tonight.”

Bam Adebayo on Myron Gardner’s ‘kid energy’ after outstanding outing:

“I can’t describe Myron, but you need teammates like him. Put him in the game and he will play as hard as possible.. when Myron checks the game, you immediately feel the difference…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/h8RR8FaOkk

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) January 18, 2026

The Heat’s Myron Gardner on his opening road win at the Thunder

While it is The Heat are looking to turn around their inconsistent seasonthe team will need countless resources to perform at their best, even if they are the tenth man on the roster. Gardner has no doubt that he has the motivation and desire to help Miami, as his journey to the game with the Thunder is one to admire.

Novak was in Sioux Falls with the G League team when he was called up to be with the Heat, as he described waking up at 3 a.m. that morning to take off at 5 am to make it to the game.

“It was wild, coming here last night … I woke up at 3 a.m. — it took two flights to get here,” Gardner said.

Myron Gardner’s comments after his standout performance against the Thunder.

He talked about how he was taught to play with great energy:

“We are going to war, so the battle is do or die…” #HeatNation pic.tvitter.com/TaF7NTlKsmt

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) January 18, 2026

Gardner would talk more about the energy he brings, whether he’s on the court or not, and the confidence he had in a team that believed in him before turning the game around, as Miami trailed by 12 points before entering.

“That’s how I was taught to play, just do your best, leave it all on the floor — we’re going to war, so it’s do or die fighting,” Gardner told ClutchPoints.

“It gave me confidence when they believed they were going to put me in the game, so when I go out, I just have to prove myself … I’ve been working my whole life,” Gardner continued.

Either way, whatever Gardner’s role is with the Heat, he wants to help the team as they go 22-20 on a five-game road trip that begins Monday against the Golden State Warriors.