OKLAHOMA CITY — Based on the trend, the Heat will blow a 23-point lead on Thursday night against the Houston Rockets.
Because on Monday night, there was a blown 19-point lead, before the Heat scrambled to a victory over the Indiana Pacers to start this four-game trip.
Wednesday night, the Heat topped that, blowing a 21-point lead before recovering for a 111-108 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center.
Not exactly the preferred path for recovery from the depths of the standings.
But apparently no escaping the drama.
Tyler Herro took care of the closing act, his 19-foot jumper with 4.9 seconds to play putting the Heat up two, and the Heat then made a needed final defensive stand.
At 24 of 56 from beyond the arc, the Heat won with the long ball, setting a franchise record for 3-pointers.
Herro led the Heat with 35 points, with center Bam Adebayo adding a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder with 27 points.
Five Degrees of Heat from Wednesday’s game:
— 1. Closing time: It was tied 31-31 at the end of the first quarter. The Heat then opened the second period with a 20-2 run, going up by 21, before taking a 64-52 lead into the intermission.
After falling behind by two in the third, the Heat went into the fourth up 86-84.
The Thunder then moved to a seven-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
From there, a Herro 3-pointer drew the Heat within 103-101 with 3:16 to play, with another Herro 3-pointer tying it with 1:27 to play.
Victor Oladipo followed with a transition layup for a 108-106 lead with 66 seconds left. Fouled on the play, he missed the ensuing free throw.
Then, with 55 seconds left, the Heat challenged an out-of-bounds ruling that went in the Thunder’s favor, winning the challenge.
With 25.7 seconds to play, Gilgeous-Alexander got to the line when Adebayo fouled out, making both for a 108-108 tie.
That’s when Herro took a long inbounds pass into the backcourt, dribbled into space and drained a 19-foot jumper for a 110-108 lead, closing the scoring.
— 2. Herro ball: Given the keys to the offense with Butler out, all nine of Herro’s first-half shots were 3-pointers, converting six. The six 3-pointers set a career high for a half.
An 11-0 run by Herro at the start of the second period gave the Heat a 42-31 lead, with the Heat pushing it to a 20-2 surge.
Herro’s first 2-point attempt was an errant driving layup with 9:01 to play in the third quarter.
He went from 20 points in the first half to three in the third.
— 3. The 3-ball: In closing 16 of 29 on 3-pointers in the first half, the Heat set a franchise record for 3-pointers in a half, as well as a Thunder opponent record for 3-pointers in a half.
In addition to Herro’s 6 of 9 over the first two periods, Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson both were 3 of 5 from beyond the arc in the first half, with Oladipo 2 of 3.
“As long as we’re getting good, clean looks, I think things will change for us in terms of percentage,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said going into the game. “That’s always been our thing. Can we get to our game a little bit more consistently? There’s a synergy and a flow and a rhythm that everybody benefits from when we’re getting paint attacks, the ball’s moving, make an extra pass, you’re really working together to try to generate shots.”
— 4. Further steps: Playing as the Heat’s first reserve, Oladipo provided a solid presence on both ends, including three first-half streals.
With the Heat bench limited, Spoelstra left Oladipo in the game even after Oladipo was called for his fourth foul with 2:28 left in the third period. Oladipo then also started the fourth quarter.
Now more than a week into his comeback from preseason knee pain, it would appear likely that Oladipo will be held out on the second half of the back-to-back set.
— 5. Plan B: Effectively serving as the Heat’s universal donor when it comes to replacing sidelined starters, Max Strus this time filled in for Butler. It was Strus’ 15th start in his 27 appearances.
With Strus elevated from the second unit, it opened bench roles for both Haywood Highsmith and Robinson.
Highsmith had not played in the previous two games. Robinson had been held out of four of the previous six.
The two other primary reserves Wednesday were Oladipo and Dewayne Dedmon.
Even with the Heat’s sizzling shooting start, Strus was 0 for 4 on 3-pointers in the first half.
