Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Thunder 115, Heat 93
Oklahoma City overcomes early 18-point deficit.
MIAMI — Monday night did not create clarity for the Miami Heat, except, perhaps, the level of where they stand as a playoff competitor.
Given the opportunity to wrap up a division title and no worse than a No. 7 Eastern Conference playoff seed, the Heat fell to an opponent that yet could make significant noise in the Western Conference playoff race, with the Oklahoma City Thunder punching their postseason ticket with a 115-93 victory at AmericanAirlines Arena.
With Russell Westbrook re- cording his 25th triple-double of the season and Paul George scoring 27 points, the Thunder overcame an early 18-point deficit to improve to 47-34 and drop the Heat to 43-38.
The Heat’s playoff seed and first-round opponent now will not be decided until Wednesday night, when they close out with 2017-18 schedule against the visiting Toronto Raptors.
Forward Josh Richardson led the Heat with 18 points, with Heat center Hassan Whiteside adding 16 points and eight rebounds while playing in foul trouble.
Going into the night, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, “It
makes it fun when all of your games have meaning all the way to the end.”
Game No. 82 certainly will have that, the Heat still unsure whether they will finish No. 6, No. 7 or No. 8 in the conference, with the Raptors, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers all still potential opponents in the best-of-seven first round that opens this weekend.
A George 3-pointer with 5:41 to play gave the Thunder their largest lead to that stage at 97-91. Whiteside then was called for his fifth foul on the offensive end 13 seconds later, with a Westbrook jumper with 5:19 left giving Oklahoma City a 99-91 lead.
The Thunder pulled away from there.
The Thunder tied it twice in the third quarter but were unable to push to their first lead, with the Heat taking an 81-76 advantage into the fourth.
Westbrook had already secured his triple-double by then, with Richardson up to 18 points at that stage and George at 22 for the Thunder.
Spoelstra left Whiteside in the game after his center was called for his fourth foul with 8:31 to play in the third, with Spoelstra called for a technical foul for his protest.
After leading by 18 early, the Heat went into the intermission up 52-49, with Richardson up to 13 points at that stage for the Heat, George with 14 for the Thunder.
Westbrook was halfway to a triple-double at the break, with 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
With the Thunder missing their first 10 shots, the Heat moved to an early 23-5 lead. But fueled by a 9-0 run, Oklahoma City eventually closed within 27-21 by the end of the opening period.
Early foul trouble was an issue both ways, with James Johnson and Whiteside both forced to the Heat bench with their second fouls by the midpoint of the first period. The Thunder’s George later was called for his second foul in the opening quarter.
Whiteside later was called for his third foul late in the second period.
The game closed out the two-game season series. The Thunder won the first meeting 105-99 March 23 at Chesapeake Energy Arena, with Westbrook scoring 17 fourth-quarter points, supported by the 24 points and 12 rebounds of Adams.
The Thunder entered seeking to sweep the series for a second consecutive season, with victories in six of the previous seven meetings, as well as three of their previous four visits.
The Heat entered 9-1 in their previous 10 home games, but just 17-25 overall against teams with winning records.
The Heat were coming off Friday’s 122-98 road loss to the New York Knicks, now at 4-5 in their last nine games.
The game concluded a two-game trip for the Thunder, who close their season Wednesday at home against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Thunder entered having lost 5 of 7 before Saturday’s crucial 108-102 victory in Houston.
For the Heat, Dion Waiters (ankle) was out. For the Thunder, Andre Roberson (knee) was out.