Miami Heat vs Oklahoma City Thunder live stream: Watch online free Thursday night NBA as two potential NBA Championship opponents meet in OKC.

Both teams have won three straight but Friday night marks the return of Russell Westbrook for the Oklahoma City Thunder (43-12) vs the Miami Heat (38-14). The three-time all-star is returning from his third operation on his right knee in nine months. Watch the free live stream online as he tries to help a Thunder team that won by double-digits in Miami last month.

Watch the free live stream online of the Miami Heat vs Oklahoma City Thunder

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"It's like trading for an All Star at the trade deadline," Durant, the NBA's leading scorer, told NBA.com. "We're looking forward to it. We're definitely excited for him to get back."

Coach Scott Brooks wouldn't make a definitive statement on Westbrook's status for Thursday's game, but talked at length about the way team dynamics would change upon his return. It will be Westbrook's first game since Christmas day, where he nearly had a triple-double before being forced to leave the game.

"I thought he had a good practice today," Brooks told NBA.com. "We went pretty hard, no question. We did a lot of things in transition, we did a lot of halfcourt. We did a lot of defensive drills, and he was able to participate in all of our drills."

Miami is looking to avenge the loss from last month where it was up as much as 18 points before Durant and company took over, despite not having Westbrook.

"It'll be one of our biggest challenges of the regular season," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. "Anytime we play them (is a challenge), especially now, after losing to them at home. And bringing in Westbrook, you're bringing in a dynamic player at home, where they play very well. We're going to have to play as close to flawless as we can to beat this team."

The stretch of 27 games that Westbrook missed, OKC has won 20 of those. The Thunder have the best record in the NBA.

"With Russell coming back, it adds a dynamic player on both ends of the floor," Brooks said. "Russell doesn't get enough credit for this, but his defensive toughness and his ability to get to the free-throw line -- those are the things that we like in addition to all the other things that he brings."