Thunder Preview: OKC Hosts Miami On Sunset Sunday

For the eighth time this season the Thunder will host a “Sunset Sunday” game, with this week’s matchup coming against the Miami Heat at 6 p.m. Here are a couple of things to know about the 2012 Finals rematch:

No Dragic For Heat

Miami will be without starting point guard Goran Dragic when they take the floor at Chesapeake Energy Arena due a strained calf injury he suffered last week. Dragic hasn’t played in the Heat’s last three games, and the Heat have gone 1-2 in his absence.

Many thought the addition of Dragic to the Heat lineup would put Miami over the top, but the Yugoslavian point guard has struggled to get much going this season and is averaging only 12.3 points a five assists per game.

Miami head coach Dwayne Wade will warm up with the intention to play tonight against the Thunder. Wade has sat out in recent games due to sore shoulders. 

Revenge for OKC?

The Thunder made the trip to Miami at the beginning of December but came back to OKC with a loss courtesy of the Heat. Wade scored 28 points including two go ahead free throws in the final seconds to take down Kevin Durant and company.

Both Durant and Westbrook had chances to win it at the other end of the floor, but both were off on their 3-point attempts. The loss to the Heat goes right along with the struggles the Thunder have had against the Eastern conference. OKC is currently 8-8 against teams from the East, and a win against the Heat would be big for the overall confidence moving forward.