Miami Heat vs Oklahoma City Thunder Matchup

Check out our Thunder vs. Heat prediction to get our insight on to who will win and cover the spread in Miami.

  • The Thunder have a road matchup with Miami at 21-5.
  • Oklahoma City has an effective field goal percentage of 54% (15th).
  • The Thunder are coming off a 105-99 win vs. the Heat.
  • The Heat's record sits at 13-11.
  • The Heat are averaging 112.8 points per game so far.
  • The Heat are looking to bounce back from a loss to the Thunder.

Thunder vs Heat Prediction

At 8:00 ET, the Miami Heat will host the Oklahoma City Thunder in a non-conference matchup. The Thunder (-115) are favored by 1 point over the Heat (-104). The over/under line is set at 215.

Oklahoma City is currently on a 6-game winning streak and has the best record in the Western Conference at 21-5. Miami is 13-11 and sits 6th in the East.

Thunder vs. Heat Matchup At A Glance

  • Sport: NBA
  • Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat
  • Where: Miami at Kaseya Center
  • Date: Friday, December 20th
  • Betting Odds OKC -1, OKC -115 | MIA -104 O/U 215

Thunder Preview: Are Oklahoma City Ready for a Road Win?

With a 105-99 win over the Magic on Thursday, the Thunder improved to 21-5 this season. Oklahoma City was favored by 6.5 points but didn’t cover the spread, and the game’s total of 204 points fell short of the 209.5-point line.

A key 12-0 run helped the Thunder take control, as they went from trailing 37-32 to leading 44-37. They dominated the 2nd quarter, outscoring Orlando 36-18, but the Magic fought back, winning the 3rd quarter 28-17. Oklahoma City held an 82-74 lead going into the 4th and managed to hold on for the win, despite being outscored 25-23 in the final period.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a win over the Magic, scoring 35 points on 57.7% shooting. He added 6 assists and 4 rebounds, with 13 of his points coming in the 1st quarter and 11 more in the 2nd.

Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins, and Jalen Williams each added 11 points. Caruso hit 3 threes, shooting 42.9% from deep, while the Thunder made 10 threes as a team, shooting 32.3% from beyond the arc and 48.2% overall.

The Thunder's defense was strong in their win over the Magic, holding them to 99 points. Oklahoma City gave up 28 points in both the 1st and 3rd quarters but tightened up in the 2nd, allowing just 18 points, and limited Orlando to 25 points in the 4th.

Defensively, the Thunder held the Magic to 44% shooting from the field and just 31% from beyond the arc, where Orlando made 11 threes. Oklahoma City also recorded 15 steals and 6 blocks in the game.

Heat Preview: Will the Heat Win at Home?

With a 105-99 win over the Magic on Thursday, the Thunder improved to 21-5 this season. Oklahoma City was favored by 6.5 points but didn’t cover the spread, winning by six. The game’s total points of 204 fell short of the 209.5-point over/under line.

A pivotal 12-0 run helped the Thunder take control, turning a 37-32 deficit into a 44-37 lead. They dominated the 2nd quarter, outscoring Orlando 36-18, but the Magic made a push in the 3rd, cutting the lead to 82-74 heading into the final quarter.

Jimmy Butler's 35-point, 19-rebound performance wasn't enough for the Heat in their 125-124 loss to the Pistons. Butler shot 57.1% from the field and added 14 points in the 2nd quarter. Tyler Herro contributed 23 points, with 13 coming in the 4th quarter, despite shooting just 23.5% from three-point range.

The Heat made only 12 threes, shooting 27.9% from beyond the arc. Overall, they shot 45.5% from the field. Duncan Robinson and Jaime Jaquez each added 13 points, with Robinson scoring 4 points in overtime.

Defensively, the Heat struggled in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters, giving up 33, 30, and 34 points, respectively, before tightening up in the 4th, where they allowed just 17 points. Overall, they gave up 125 points on 48% shooting from the field.

Miami had a tough time defending the three, as the Pistons hit 20 threes at a 50% clip. The Heat also sent Detroit to the line 23 times, where they made 17 free throws. On the boards, Miami allowed 7 offensive rebounds while recording 16 steals and 2 blocks.

Thunder vs Heat Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

  • In their last five road games, Oklahoma City has averaged 114 points per game while allowing 102 . The team's record in this stretch was 4-1 while going 3-2 vs. the spread.
  • Across the Heat last ten home games, the team averaged 111 points per game while allowing 114. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 3-7, while going 3-7 straight-up.
  • Looking back on the team's last ten games as the underdog, the Heat have a straight up record of 3-7. Their record vs the spread in these games was 4-6.
  • In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Thunder have a strong straight up record of 5-0. In addition, their ATS record was 4-1 in these scenarios.

Thunder vs Heat Prediction

To Top