Thunder still retains ‘steamroller mode’
After a sudden midseason stumble, the reigning champions rediscover their edge with a statement second half against Miami.
The end of 2025 and the dawn of 2026 were bleak for an unfamiliar-looking Oklahoma City Thunder. The reigning NBA champions had appeared unstoppable until they ran into – and fell to – the San Antonio Spurs in the Cup semifinals. From that point on, everything spiraled. Unexpectedly so.
OKC went from a historic, seemingly untouchable 24-1 to a far more human 30-7 after going 6-6 over a 12-game stretch. San Antonio, Minnesota, Phoenix and even Charlotte managed to bring down a team that had looked out of reach.
It was a painful blow, one the Thunder are now trying to shake off through sheer winning. Sometimes by grinding, as in the victories over Utah and Memphis, and sometimes through pure force and authority, as they did late Sunday night into Monday against the Miami Heat (124-111).
OKC showed grit and muscle against a rival that started sharply, eager to take control – and doing just that. Late in the first quarter, the visitors from Florida led 24-12 and went into halftime still ahead (59-54). Andrew Wiggins shone with 23 points, while Tyler Herro added 19.
The second half was different. Or perhaps it was the same old story, because the hosts flipped the switch into the steamroller mode that makes them so feared. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took over, scoring 16 of his 29 points in the third quarter, as the Thunder turned the game on its head in barely three minutes with a lightning 13-0 run – from a 74-74 tie to an 87-74 lead.
Oklahoma unleashed its best version after the break. A suffocating defense that generated 39 points off Miami’s 23 turnovers, and a devastating offense that poured in 70 points in the second half after both teams had combined for more than 50 before halftime. With that +13 cushion, the champions never looked back. They kept pushing, securing a third straight win. Miami, meanwhile, has now dropped three in a row.
Latest NBA results:
Orlando Magic 128 – New Orleans Pelicans 118
Memphis Grizzlies 103 – Brooklyn Nets 98
Toronto Raptors 116 – Philadelphia 76ers 115
New York Knicks 123 – Portland Trail Blazers 114
Minnesota Timberwolves 104 – San Antonio Spurs 103
Denver Nuggets 108 – Milwaukee Bucks 104
Phoenix Suns 112 – Washington Wizards 93
Atlanta Hawks 124 – Golden State Warriors 111
Sacramento Kings 111 – Houston Rockets 98
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
|
5
Luguentz Dort
|
|
8
Jalen Williams
|
|
7
Chet Holmgren
|
|
2
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
|
|
22
Cason Wallace
|
|
23
Brooks Barnhizer
|
|
15
Branden Carlson
|
|
9
Alex Caruso
|
|
13
Ousmane Dieng
|
|
11
Isaiah Joe
|
|
25
Ajay Mitchell
|
|
21
Aaron Wiggins
|
|
6
Jaylin Williams
|
|
34
Kenrich Williams
|
|
3
Chris Youngblood
|
| Min | Pts | TR | OR | DR | Ast | Los | Rec | Blk | S1 | S2 | S3 | RF | CF | Val | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5
Luguentz Dort
|
19 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2/2 | 1/2 | 0/1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
|
8
Jalen Williams
|
29 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0/2 | 9/12 | 0/1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
|
7
Chet Holmgren
|
31 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1/2 | 6/9 | 1/4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
2
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
|
31 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7/9 | 8/13 | 2/6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
|
22
Cason Wallace
|
25 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1/2 | 1/3 | 0/3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
23
Brooks Barnhizer
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
15
Branden Carlson
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
9
Alex Caruso
|
14 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 2/3 | 1/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
13
Ousmane Dieng
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
11
Isaiah Joe
|
18 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3/5 | 1/1 | 2/4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
25
Ajay Mitchell
|
26 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 8/12 | 0/3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
21
Aaron Wiggins
|
18 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0/0 | 1/3 | 3/7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
6
Jaylin Williams
|
14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6/6 | 0/1 | 1/2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
|
34
Kenrich Williams
|
6 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
|
3
Chris Youngblood
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
9
Pelle Larsson
|
|
22
Andrew Wiggins
|
|
13
Bam Adebayo
|
|
14
Tyler Herro
|
|
45
Davion Mitchell
|
|
0
Simone Fontecchio
|
|
15
Myron Gardner
|
|
25
Kasparas Jakucionis
|
|
11
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
|
|
16
Keshad Johnson
|
|
5
Nikola Jović
|
|
12
Dru Smith
|
|
7
Kel'el Ware
|
| Min | Pts | TR | OR | DR | Ast | Los | Rec | Blk | S1 | S2 | S3 | RF | CF | Val | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9
Pelle Larsson
|
27 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3/4 | 5/7 | 1/4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
22
Andrew Wiggins
|
36 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0/0 | 1/6 | 7/10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
|
13
Bam Adebayo
|
31 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0/2 | 3/9 | 0/1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
|
14
Tyler Herro
|
27 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2/3 | 7/12 | 1/3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
|
45
Davion Mitchell
|
31 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 2/4 | 3/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
0
Simone Fontecchio
|
1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
15
Myron Gardner
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
25
Kasparas Jakucionis
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
11
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
|
20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 1/1 | 1/2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
|
16
Keshad Johnson
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
5
Nikola Jović
|
25 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0/0 | 2/3 | 3/4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
|
12
Dru Smith
|
17 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2/4 | 2/3 | 0/0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
|
7
Kel'el Ware
|
16 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 4/5 | 0/3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |