How Bam Adebayo feels about Miami’s win over the league’s best Thunder shows

ByNBAUSA


MIAMI – Following The Miami Heat lost to the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, members of the team reflected on the 21-20 start to the season, noting the usual trend that they are better than their record suggests. Although it was inconsistent heat season, Saturday night has a chance to mark the beginning of a breakthrough, as the team handed the Oklahoma City Thunder their eighth loss of the season, 122-120, in an incredible victory.

Miami’s captain led the way Bam Adebayowho scored a team-high 30 points on 9-of-22 shooting from the field, hitting a career-high six 3-pointers on 10 attempts. With 12 rebounds, four assists and elite defense, it was the performance needed to spur the Heat to commit just four turnovers, grab 21 offensive rebounds and outscore Oklahoma City in second-chance points, 33-9.

However, it came down to the very end, and the advantage was a three-pointer by Andrew Wiggins after an excellent pass Norman Powellthen a defensive break at the end to give the team their best win of the season.

“Man, it was a hard-fought victory“Adebayo told ClutchPoints. “We had to hang on to that one. It just shows what we’re capable of. Now it’s up to us to be more consistent with that type of play and really commit to it because as long as you buy into what the coach preaches, it can lead to Vs.”

Norman Powell directing the Heat after the Thunder win

Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) reacts after a goal against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at the Casey Center.
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

We’re coming off a terrible last road trip in the Heatthe team would finish the home stand 2-1, but there was no doubt that Thursday’s loss to the Celtics stuck with the team.

After another loss where the Heat couldn’t pull out a win despite leading the entire game, Powell revealed that Miami “let down” afterward and expressed how Saturday’s win over the Thunder was a huge step in the right direction.

“We have my goal,” Powell said. “Coach gave us the stats from last year and we want to get there. You know, we definitely felt a little disappointed after the Boston game, but the way we came together between games and talked about it, watch the film. I thought we came out and set the right tone and played to our identity. We were able to maintain our identity offensively, defensively, no matter how the game went.”

“Which call went theirs or not ours,” Powell continued. “We were mentally tough; we stood together every dead ball. We were in the huddle, talking to each other, for those on the floor, about how we can be better, what we saw. And even in timeouts, everyone was collectively engaged in what we needed to do. And when the guys came out, came off the bench, those guys stepped up for us.”

A fan might be wondering what statistics Powell is talking about about that head coach Erik Spoelstra showed the team before the game. Well, they won’t know, as Powell says, that it’s being kept “inside,” but whatever it showed, it gave Miami plenty of motivation to take down the reigning NBA champions.

Erik Spoelstra on what ‘fueled’ Heat during Thunder win

There were many standout aspects of the win, such as how the Heat shot 111 times from the field compared to Oklahoma City’s 77, and how Miami shot 50 three-pointers compared to the Thunder’s 29. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 39 points, the Heat played fast and physical, which is their recipe for success.

But there seemed to be a change in mentality after the loss to the Celtics, and Spoelstra told ClutchPoints that the outcome was “fuel supply” the team.

“It was one of those after the Boston game where there was, I think, extreme frustration and anger after that game, where we felt like we outplayed them for most of the game and lost the game,” Spoelstra said. “So there was a lot that drove us. And this was a must-play game in every way, whatever it takes. And you just saw those incredible efforts down the stretch and some of those second-chance opportunities.”

The win over the Thunder was crucial for many reasons, especially in reminding the 22-20 Heat that they can compete with anyone, even at a disadvantage, as the team was without Tyler Hero, Davion Mitchell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. due to injury.

It also gives Miami a lot of momentum as the team now embarks on a five-game road trip, which begins Monday night against Jimmy Butler and the Golden State Warriors.





2026-01-18 06:00:00

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