PREVIEW: The Oklahoma City Thunder will visit the Miami Heat on January 17, 2026 at Kaseya Center , marking a clash between the league's hottest team and a squad desperately seeking consistency. The Thunder arrive at 35-7 and are favored by 10.5 points , having established themselves as the league's elite defensive unit. Oklahoma City ranks first in forcing turnovers and allowing few shots at the rim while maintaining a low turnover rate of their own , creating a suffocating defensive identity that opponents struggle to break down. The Thunder are riding a five-game winning streak and have gone 8-2 in their last ten contests , showcasing the kind of sustained excellence that defines championship-caliber teams. The Heat sit at 21-20 overall but have performed noticeably better at home with a 14-7 record , setting up an opportunity to prove they belong in the conversation with the league's elite. Miami operates at a quick tempo and features high-frequency post-ups and rim attacks , but their offensive execution has been inconsistent throughout the season. The Heat have been up and down all year, going 5-5 in their last ten games while losing four of their last five , suggesting they're searching for stability at precisely the wrong moment. The Thunder's suffocating ball-hawking defense ranks first in the league, while Miami allows average spacing on three-point attempts , presenting a significant mismatch in how these teams pressure opposing offenses.