MIAMI -- Before Russell Westbrook had the stomach to look at his list of text messages, put on his lime pants, orange shirt or spike-studded white high tops, he was doubled over and just staring at the locker room floor.

The sting of the Oklahoma City Thunder's latest loss to the Miami Heat -- 103-97 on Christmas evening -- won't exactly sting like it did in June. But it was still tough for Westbrook and his teammates to immediately accept.

You could easily start a heated debate between Thunder and Heat fans talking about Westbrook's missed 3-pointer that could've tied the game in the final five seconds. Dwyane Wade made contact with Westbrook's arm and Westbrook stuck his leg out to hit Wade. There was no whistle and no make.

In a way, it was much like when Kevin Durant missed a jumper in the final seconds of Game 2 of the Finals, when LeBron James defended him tightly on a potentially tying shot. These are the sort of things that lead to fiery disagreements, even if they don't truly define the game's outcome.

"It's part of the game," Westbrook said. "Sometimes it doesn't go your way. You have to keep playing."

Westbrook's visceral reaction wasn't so bland as he let loose a stream of curse words before punching a table, which triggered an automatic technical. After a game in which he missed 14 of 19 shots and committed five turnovers, he was not in the mood.

Break down the angle-by-angle replays all you want, the Thunder's reality coming out of this game is the same as it was when they lost four of five in the Finals. There have been plenty of platitudes about how that series was closer than the result. The same could be said of Tuesday evening.

But the Thunder may have to evaluate their strategy against the Heat if they hope to turn this tide around. They have their reasons for what they're doing -- this well-regarded organization always does -- but the results continue to create question marks that it seems they must address.