Days after its NBA Cup Final loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Oklahoma City Thunder had a stronger showing and defeated the Miami Heat, 104-97. With Jimmy Butle

The Oklahoma City Thunder (21-6) are on the road Friday to face the Miami Heat (13-11). Tip-off from Kaseya Center is at 8 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NBA odds around the Thunder vs. He

The Oklahoma City Thunder head to Kaseya Center to face the Miami Heat. The Thunder are one of the best teams in the NBA so far this season, sitting atop the Western Conference with a 20-5 record. The Heat aren't faring too badly, but sit in sixth place with a 13-11 record.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are known to be an impressive roster, with soon-to-be multiple All-Stars and a host of talented role players. Most nights, they can simply out-talent their opponents. But in a Friday-night win over the Miami Heat — one that pushed their record to 22-5 on the season — they proved their mettle.

So Williams’ 33 points on 12-of-25 shooting mattered, more specifically his fourth-quarter rampage. But his effort, uncommon for a young player fresh off the unrecognizable performance he’d had in Orlando, pushed OKC over the top.

Last night, Dec. 19, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated an injury-filled Orlando Magic team at the Kia Center 105-99. Now, in back-to-back days, OKC will stay in the state of Florida to take on the Miami Heat.

VITALS : The Heat and Thunder meet for the first of two regular season matchups. Last season, Oklahoma City won the series, 2-0, after Miami won the previous three season matchups, 6-0. The Heat are 30-42 all-time versus OKC during the regular season, including 16-20 in home games and 14-22 in road games.