SGA blames OKC for 34 fewer shots than the Heat for the heartbreaking loss

After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City The Thunder’s heartbreaking 122-120 loss to the Miami Heat on the road, the reigning MVP explained what went wrong for the defending champions. The Heat outrebounded the Thunder 51-46, including 21 offensive rebounds that led to 33 second-chance points and erased a 12-point deficit.

After the loss, Thunder’s Gilgeous-Alexander shouted his team for a turnover in a game that came down to Alex Caruso’s three-point attempt with less than 3.0 seconds left in the game.

“I’d say the rebound for this one,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, when asked what stood out the most from the loss. “When you give the other team more possessions and more scoring chances, NBA players are going to score. We didn’t get them back tonight. So we didn’t get them back in the turnover battle. Then they got the possession in the rebound battle. So it’s like a double plus for them, and I think that turned the game. But it turned us around.

“Me, personally, I don’t think we had any rebounds. So we have to find ways to end possessions.”

The heat is extra 34 field goal attempts It was just the third time in the NBA since 2011, according to OKC Thunder Stats X, formerly Twitter.

“There’s only been that much difference in the NBA twice in the last 18 seasons. BKN vs. PHI in 2018, Golden State vs. OKC in 2011. In that GSV-OKC game, the Warriors had 20 offensive rebounds to the Thunder’s 2.”

Andrew Wiggins’ three-pointer with 31.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter gave the Heat the lead going forward. He finished with 15 points, five rebounds and assists. Bam Adebayo’s double-double of 30 points (12 rebounds) led six Heat players in double figures, including Norman Powell (19 points) and Pele Larson (16 points)

Shai Giljus-Alexander led the Thunder with 39 points, four rebounds and three assists. Aaron Wiggins led the bench with 18 points, including four 3-pointers and six rebounds, and Chet Holmgren added 14 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks.

Jaylen Williams leaves Thunder loss with injury

Thunder All Star Jalen Williams suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter of Saturday’s two-point loss to the Heat. He left the game and never came back. Head coach Mark Daigneault provided an update on Williams’ injury during his media availability after the game.

Daigneault says Thunder will examine Williams ahead of Monday’s game against the Cavs.

“We’ll see in the morning,” Daigneault said. “Then we’ll check on him and see how he is tomorrow.”

Williams left the game with eight points on 3-of-5 shooting, a pair of 3-pointers, three rebounds and three assists in 14 minutes.