The Miami Heat have turned late-game collapses into an unfortunate trend this season, consistently letting significant leads slip away in the fourth quarter.

Their latest defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder was a prime example, as they squandered a 16-point second-half advantage and a 10-point cushion entering the fourth quarter. The Thunder outscored the Heat 32-8 in the final period, which was Miami’s third single-digit fourth quarter this season. With only 16.7% shooting and six turnovers in the last 12 minutes, MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge, rendering Bam Adebayo’s 27-point, 15-rebound effort ineffective.

This isn’t an isolated issue. The Heat have now suffered eight losses after leading by double digits in the second half, with some of the most egregious examples including blowing a 22-point fourth-quarter lead against Orlando and a 17-point fourth-quarter advantage against Sacramento. Their inability to close games has placed them in a precarious position in the Eastern Conference standings. The Heat are now two games under .500 for the first time since November, and late-game letdowns could sink their playoff hopes.

One of the biggest concerns has been the Heat’s lack of a reliable go-to scorer in crunch time. Adebayo usually lights up the court, but Head Coach Erik Spoelstra sometimes pulls him during crucial stretches, like in the Thunder game, where he missed the fourth quarter despite his early dominance. Meanwhile, Tyler Herro, typically a scoring threat, went cold from deep and ended up scoreless in the final period against OKC. Spoelstra has experimented with different rotations, but the lack of execution in high-pressure moments remains a glaring issue.

The Numbers Behind Miami’s Fourth-Quarter Struggles

The Heat’s fourth-quarter collapses are not just an eye-test issue, the numbers paint an even bleaker picture. Miami has recorded three single-digit fourth quarters this season, the most of any team in the league. Since December 20, they have scored fewer than 10 points in a quarter on three separate occasions. They’re the first Heat team since 1989‑90 to suffer three such collapses in a season, one of the worst late-game performances in franchise history. In their latest game against OKC, they were outscored 32‑8 in the fourth, combining for a 63‑17 deficit in their last two road fourth quarters (including a 31‑9 quarter against Brooklyn five nights ago).

Moreover, Miami has repeatedly squandered late leads, including blowing a 22-point advantage against Orlando, a 17-point lead against Sacramento, and a 16-point cushion against OKC, all in the fourth quarter. They also lost after being up 15 against Phoenix and 13 against New York in the third quarter. Furthermore, they failed to secure victories despite leading by eight in overtime against Detroit, five against Sacramento with 1:11 remaining, and two against Detroit with just 1.1 seconds left in overtime.

The Heat’s shooting woes and defensive lapses in these moments have been visible. Against OKC, they shot 3-of-18 (16.7%) from the field in the fourth quarter and 2-of-10 (20%) from three. Meanwhile, the Thunder shot 56.5% in the final period and forced six Heat turnovers. The Heat’s season has been plagued by poor shot selection, untimely turnovers, and defensive lapses leading to extended opponent runs. Sitting eighth in the Eastern Conference at 25-27, they must fix these issues now or risk letting late-game struggles define their frustrating campaign.