In a stunning turn of events, the Miami Heat managed to overcome the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, with a final score of 122-120! This nail-biting game, updated on January 17, 2026, saw the Heat pull off a victory thanks to a clutch three-pointer from Andrew Wiggins with a mere 31 seconds left on the clock. But that's not all; Bam Adebayo delivered an outstanding performance, netting 30 points, including a career-high six three-pointers!
Miami's offense was firing on all cylinders, with Norman Powell contributing 19 points and Pelle Larsson adding 16. The bench also played a crucial role, as Simone Fontecchio and Myron Gardner combined for 24 points.
On the other side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put on a show for Oklahoma City, scoring a remarkable 39 points. Aaron Wiggins added 18 points, while Ajay Mitchell scored 15, and Chet Holmgren contributed 14.
However, the Thunder faced a setback when Jalen Williams had to leave the game in the second quarter due to right thigh soreness. This injury, which the team will evaluate, added an extra layer of tension to an already intense match.
The Thunder had a chance to tie the game after Wiggins' crucial shot, but Holmgren missed an inbounds pass. Miami secured the rebound. In the final seconds, with 3.0 seconds remaining, Alex Caruso inbounded to Gilgeous-Alexander, whose three-point attempt bounced off the backboard and rim as time expired.
Interestingly, this was Oklahoma City's first loss this season when scoring at least 120 points, having previously been undefeated at 24-0 in such games.
The Heat were without key players: Tyler Herro (sore big toe, bruised rib), Davion Mitchell (bruised left shoulder), and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (sprained left knee).
A notable achievement from the game is that Gilgeous-Alexander scored at least 20 points in his 113th consecutive regular-season game, putting him within 13 games of tying Wilt Chamberlain's record.
This was the 77th time during that streak that Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 or more points. He has scored exactly 20 points during the streak only once, that being in Thursday's win over Houston.
What are your thoughts on this exciting game? Do you think the Thunder will bounce back in their next game against Cleveland on Monday? And how will the Heat fare against Golden State on Monday? Share your opinions in the comments below!
