MIAMI _ This is why you can't lose at home to the Chicago Bulls.
Because games like Friday night's 118-102 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder follow.
Outclassed from the outset, the Miami Heat proved unable to keep up with Paul George, Russell Westbrook and ... Dennis Schroder in a loss that dropped them to 24-26 overall and 11-15 at home.
The Thunder not only scored 73 first-half points, but got 24 second-quarter points from Schroder, the most by an individual in a second period against the Heat in the franchise's 31 seasons.
Ultimately, George was even better, closing with 43 points that included 10-of-16 3-point shooting, with Schroder adding 28 points and Westbrook with a triple-double (14 points, 14 assists, 12 rebounds). George's 10 3-pointers were a franchise record.
The Heat's deficit reached 12 at the midpoint of the opening period and stood at 23 in the second quarter.
Games such as this and the challenges the Heat face on the impending five-game western swing are the very reason why the squandered opportunities against opponents such as the Bulls ultimately could capsize this into a lottery season.
"We kind of lack that consistency to play to our level, play to our highest level all the time and that's something that we're just not doing, not doing it at a good rate right now," forward Justise Winslow said going in.
Then there was a Thunder defense that made the challenge all the more daunting.
"They're electrifying defensively," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "They really are. They're different than any other team you face, just with the speed, athleticism, the gambling, the length, pursuit to the ball. They do a lot of things that you might not see for three weeks. And they do it with such great quickness."
Salvaging this three-game homestand now comes down to whether more can be mustered for Saturday's visit by the Indiana Pacers.
