The Miami Heat came into their most recent game banged up, to say the least. A Tuesday night matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder in Miami and on the national television airwaves of TNT nonetheless, the Miami Heat would fight and claw up until the very in to eke out a win.
But the result is no fun without the lead-up, one that occurred without four regular starters in the game for the Heat. Without Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Caleb Martin, just from the starting group, among other ailments, the Miami Heat had to count on every available body they had at their disposal.
And they would, getting out to a good lead to open the game and even holding one of the league’s top scorers in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to just two points in the opening period of play. But then there was the whole Dewayne Dedmon thing.
And though they would still manage to take a, 63-56, lead into the half, this certainly wasn’t a good sight to see on a night where they were already down so many guys.
Here's the play preceding the Dedmon argument and ejection. Dedmon doesn't provide much interference on OKC's transition possession, doesn't get back to protect the rim. Not much went right for any Heat defender on this play. Unclear if this is related to the ejection. https://t.co/T3BdVKAoAe pic.twitter.com/d4L7FvefE3
— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) January 11, 2023
The Miami Heat were down a few bodies initially, before losing another early in the game. But by doing the simple things perfectly, they were able to eke it out.
Again, still able to take a decent lead into the half, the Miami Heat seemed in control. The Thunder would cut the lead to one heading into the last period of play, outscoring the Heat by six, 26-32, in the third period but it was what they would do in that fourth period that really provided the scare.
Going up by five with just a minute or so left in the game, things looked bleak for the Miami Heat. But then a resurgent and spry-looking Victor Oladiop cut the lead to two with a big three with around 40 seconds left.
And after two huge missed free throws on a very questionable foul call that was challenged by the Heat’s Coach Spo, the Miami Heat would still almost blow it. After getting two huge missed free throws from Kenrich Williams of the Thunder, the Miami Heat allowed them to secure the offensive rebound.
But Oladipo would come up huge again, scrapping for the ball with active hands, hustling out to secure the loose ball steal, and blitzing the ball up the court to get on the Heat’s side. He would seal the whole deal by finding Jimmy Butler for the game-winning lay-in and added free throw because of a foul on that make.
Speaking of the free throws though, the Miami Heat would, as heavily publicized by now, set the NBA free throw record by going 40-40 on the night. And for a team missing as much as they were, allowing the game to come down to the anxiety-inducing wire, and struggling to shoot their free throws over the past few games or so—every single one of them were needed.
This was one they had to have, injuries or not, and even with all that it took, it was just good to be able to see them come away with the win.