Heat 97, Thunder 95
MIAMI -- Guard Dwyane Wade scored 28 points -- including two game-winning free throws with 1.5 seconds left -- to lead the Miami Heat to a 97-95 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Wade scored Miami's final eight points to overshadow guard Russell Westbrook and forward Kevin Durant, each of whom had 25 points for the Thunder.
The Heat, the leaders of the Southeast Division, improved to 11-6 ahead of Saturday's home game against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Oklahoma City, leading the Northwest Division, fell to 11-8.
Durant had his ups and downs in the game. He was in foul trouble early and then was hit with a technical in the second quarter when he got in the face of Heat guard Goran Dragic. Durant, who was attempting to alley-oop dunk on the play in question, was upset that Dragic stuck out his backside to bump him as he flew by.
Heat center Hassan Whiteside had 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. He had a spectacular end-to-end sequence in the second quarter, scoring on an alley-oop dunk that was thrown behind him and then blocking Durant's layup despite trailing the play on a fast break.
Oklahoma City took an odd route to a 28-23 lead after the first period. Durant picked up two quick fouls and exited the game, scoring just two points in 4:30 for the quarter.
But the Thunder went on a 7-0 run without Durant. It helped that Miami made just four of 10 free throws in the first period. Westbrook had 15 points in the period, including a sensational dunk off a steal in the open court.
Whiteside had six points and one blocks in the first period. It was nearly more, but he was called for goaltending on two of his would-be blocks.
Oklahoma City led 51-50 at halftime over Miami, which managed to make just seven of 15 foul shots during that span. That negated the Heat shooting 53 percent from the floor. The first half also featured 21 lead changes and six tie scores.
Thunder center Enes Kanter had a humbling first half. He had one of his shots viciously blocked by Heat forward Josh McRoberts. If that wasn't bad enough for Kanter, he was nearly dunked on by guard Tyler Johnson, who soared over him but lost control of the ball just as he prepared to throw it down.
Durant came alive in the third quarter, scoring 11 points, helping the Thunder take a 76-74 lead. His highlight was a cross-over move on McRoberts that ended with a left-handed dunk.
NOTES: First-year Thunder coach Billy Donovan coached Heat F Udonis Haslem at the University of Florida. Thursday's game was the first time they have faced each other. ... Heat SF Luol Deng (hamstring) missed his fourth straight game. SF Gerald Green has started in his place each time. ... Miami sent F Jarnell Stokes back to the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Developmental League. ... The Thunder sent second-year C Mitch McGary to the Oklahoma City Blue of the Developmental League. ... The Thunder are splitting center duties between 7-footer Steven Adams, who grew up playing rugby in New Zealand, and 6-11 C Enes Kanter, who is from Turkey. Oklahoma City used a first-round pick to draft Adams in 2013 and the Thunder sent another first-rounder to the Utah Jazz in February to acquire Kanter.