vs. 
TV: ESPN 2 (Cox 28, HD 721); FS OK (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 754)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 110.1 (1st), Heat– 108.3 3rd)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.2 (12th), Heat – 100.6 (5th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.0 (6th), Heat – 91.7 (11th)
View from the enemy: Heat Index
What happened in Oklahoma City a week and a half ago was special. It was fun. But here’s the thing: Lose tonight and some of those good vibes built up from beating the Heat, Lakers and Bulls will be forgotten. We live in an immediate, a what-have-you-done-lately world and a loss tonight would mean back-to-back defeats for only the second time this season, coming directly after the best week of basketball the Thunder have played this season.
Now wouldn’t that be something?
The last meeting was all about the Thunder’s physicality and how they were far more ready and focused for the game than the Heat. Tonight, the Heat have taken some punches recently, heard how maybe they aren’t elite and are assuredly looking at this as a chance to prove a point. They may be without Dwyane Wade who is questionable, but either way, this team is obviously outstanding. They’ve won 17 straight at home, are hearing grumbles and haven’t forgotten the spanking OKC laid on them. By all appearances, the Thunder could be walking into a trap. This one could tell us a lot about OKC’s mental toughness.
Miami coming in: The Heat played last night beating the 76ers without Wade.
1. MVP. Tonight’s game could decide it. At least if Durant outplays LeBron a second time, I think the award might all but be wrapped up. The way KD smoked LeBron the first game immediately altered the landscape of the award and took if from being obviously LeBron’s to potentially Durant’s. If KD out-duels LeBron a second time and OKC wins, the buzz will be overwhelming. If LeBron wins and outplays Durant, then we’ll just have to wait and see how the next three weeks play out before deciding on it.
2. Bounce back. The Thunder haven’t dropped back-to-back games since early January. They’ve only done it once this season. With the home loss to the Grizzlies Monday, that’s going to be put to the test tonight more than ever.
3. Hidden messages. The Heat need to make a statement. They might be convinced they don’t need to and that they can coast into the postseason as is, but deep down, you know they want to re-establish the fear in other teams by whipping the Thunder tonight. And all the same, OKC has a chance to make a clear point that they might be the team to beat. Somebody’s saying something tonight.
Tip at 7:00 CT. Go Most Valuable Durant.
Who thinks Fisher was a disaster tonight? *sigh* why can't we just have Maynor back??
@FF_pickups Iam hoping Fisher will show up when it counts. "Playoffs"
@OkcBaby
2 points and 1 rebound in 17 minutes?? while Ibaka only played 24...come on Brooks
@FF_pickups
I think (or hope) the apparent Brooks/Fisher love affair is more a matter of giving the man more clout amongst his team mates so they will be more likely to take his advice than it is a matter of Brooks thinking Fisher is all of a sudden Steve Nash.
@FF_pickups He always had 1 or 2 big shots to win games for the Fakers. Hoping that guy show up in big games
@FF_pickups Skip keeps blaming the wrong PG on our team for not winning a championship. Maynor's the one playing hookie for a year.
@draga
Remember the first five games how bad Westbrook was and we were still winning because the bench was lighting people up. Maynor got hurt at almost the exact same time that Westbrook turned into a monster. If Maynor was still here, our bench would be lighting people up and this team would be borderline historic.
@FF_pickups @draga Out of our control. We can only deal with what we can control
We lost this game because we missed tip ins and let battier hit two open 3s
@OBoymuzik We also let scrub Mario chalmers hit about 19 3 pointers on us as well.
@OBoymuzik
And Perk missed those two threes, I didn't like the KD play that Brooks called with 22 seconds left, I say go for the quick 2 and foul there, Lebron will choke.
@OBoymuzik
should say Perk missed those two Free throws
I hope Royce can ask Brooks why he only gives Ibaka 24 mins this game.
@shiki
Absolutely! Fisher was a disaster, he can't play in this series.
I'm going to comment for the 90th time because I'm trying to procrastinate as much as I can before I have to go to the store to get milk.
When the Heat played a bad game against us at home, we killed them. When we played absolutely terrible at Miami, we lost by 5.
Also, we didn't resort to "Wade Sucks!" chants whenever he was whining like a baby. Although maybe we should consider for next time?....nah, keep it classy OKC.
@Arent No no no, that is so aggie with the moral victory talk. We got owned plain and simple.
@mjokc88 I wouldn't call losing by 5 "owned."
@Arent Well, our superstar turned the ball over 9 times, we miss about 4 wide open baskets in the final 2 minutes. If anything we owned ourselves.
@mjokc88 @Arent Stop commenting and email me those season tickets mjokc. Please.
@mjokc88 @Arent Stop kidding that's ridiculous man
@draga @Arent I've e-mailed everyone back who's emailed me.
@Arent .... nah that foul russ did could have ruined lebrons career
no one cares perkins is getting suspended?
@Lost Ones Is it official that he'll have to serve a suspension next game? Or is there a chance that one of his most recent techs gets reviewed/rescinded?
@Lost Ones Perk Suspension party hosted at BRiX tommorow night. Be there! Drink specials, tip your waitresses.
@draga *takes 5 hour flight*
@Lost Ones the FREE COLE movement
@Lost Ones For ....?
Referees 13th man of the year award for the Heat.
@draga
No question about it, the last two games the refs haven't done the Thunder any favors.
@FF_pickups @draga Our two hard fouls made it ok for the refs to take control....still don't know how Lebron didn't get anything called on him
@FF_pickups @OBoymuzik @draga he doesn't have brains to pull that off.
@OBoymuzik @FF_pickups @draga
He was absolutely mugging KD at the end of the game. Brooks HAS TO GO PHIL JACKSON FOR DURANT IN THE POSTSEASON. He's got to throw some subtle jabs at the refs because you aren't allow to restrict player movement and that is the entire strategy with KD. Don't let him move around the court without the ball.
@FF_pickups Hand checks, thunder jerseys flopping a quarter the way across the court, brutal offensive fouls..and nothing. For a reference point, please see the Heat's home court record.
The '96 Bulls lost 10 games, guys. You lose some, and this was one of them. But I truly believe that the best team lost. The Bulls are going to knock the crap out the Heat in tthe playoffs this year.
"Westbrook killed Thunder w/ wild misses in 4th. 5 more shots than KD. 9 of 26. Only 2 assts to 5 t.o.'s. Harden better running the show."
@C_Dub Didn't Durant have 9 turnovers. What the crap? Guy's crazy.
@Arent @C_Dub
Did you see Lebron mug him on that possession at the end where Durant hit the side of the backboard and then at the other end Westbrook gets called for a handcheck on Lebron. WTF
@C_Dub wild misses? fuck he talking about
@Lost Ones @C_Dub LOL the one fastbreak shot he missed down the stretch...not the point blank misses by harden, collision, ibaka and perk
@OBoymuzik @Lost @C_Dub
Both he and Harden were fouled on that play, too. The frickin refs, that was a HUGE play because the Heat got into transition and scored...4 point swing!
@C_Dub
Westbrook was getting hacked all day long and not getting calls. Lebron shot 13 free throws, gimme a break
@FF_pickups Refs are undefeated.
@C_Dub I wish someone would send him to the D League to cover it, instead.
I don't think that the Heat are even getting out of the east.
None of our stars played well tonight...but I don't understand how media blames our turnovers...but says nothing about KD having 9 of them...can you imagine of Russ had 9 in this big of a game?
@OBoymuzik
Oh, I know. Skip is going to light up Westbrook tomorrow.
@FF_pickups @OBoymuzik If that happened and the media controlled rotations, Fish would start vs indiana.
Who wishes Coach Nick would make a DWade crying to officials video. Wow, that guy is the worst. How does he never get T'd up.
@FF_pickups He is a pouter and he throws elbows at our guys all night and doesn't get called for anything.