PREVIEW: The Miami Heat (20-18) face the Oklahoma City Thunder (32-7) on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at Paycom Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder have been in great form as they've won six of their last eight games overall. The Miami Heat have cooled off a bit lately, as they've dropped three of their last four games overall and will be looking to snap a two-game skid after getting thrashed by the Pacers in a 123-99 road defeat. The Heat operate with a quick tempo offense and rank first in frequency of post-up shots, while the Thunder excel defensively by allowing low-quality three-pointers and few shots attacking the rim. The Oklahoma City Thunder currently rank first in the NBA in defensive rating, holding opponents to a league-low 108 points per game. The Miami Heat's fourth-ranked defense excels at grinding games to a halt, and with both teams Top 10 in defensive efficiency, dealing with key roster gaps, and Miami without rest, expect tonight's clash to feature a grind-it-out style. The Heat shoot infrequently from three-point range, ranking 24th in three-point attempts, while the Thunder force an abundance of turnovers and boast elite free-throw shooting at 83 percent accuracy. The Heat are playing their second game of a back-to-back set, which creates a significant disadvantage heading into this matchup against a rested Thunder squad looking to extend their winning momentum.