(Photo via Miami Heat/X)
It was going to be hard to top the Miami Heat’s previous performance in their upset win over the OKC Thunder. Unfortunately, they were unable to build off that statement game during Monday’s late night matchup against the Golden State Warriors, losing with a final score of 135-112.
This game was truly a tale of two half’s. To begin the game, it was a back and forth battle with former Heat superstar Jimmy Butler leading the way offensively for Golden State. That was until Butler went down with a knee injury and was unable to return to the game. It was announced later on via ESPN’s Shams Charania that the now 36-year-old has suffered a season-ending torn ACL.
Prior to the injury, Butler had put up 17 points on 6 of 11 shooting in 19 minutes.
In his absence, the Warriors received a balanced attack following halftime from each of Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield and Quentin Post. Podziemski finished with a team-high 24 points for the Warriors.
As for Miami, Norman Powell dropped 21 points on 7 of 16 from the field. Andrew Wiggins also had a terrific game in his return to the Chase Center, totaling 18 points and providing most of the Heat’s offense that kept the game close early on.
Kel’el Ware dominated in his 18 bench minutes with an efficient 15 points on 70% shooting. However, Bam Adebayo’s rough night offensively was too much to overcome. Following his Eastern Conference player of the week honors after bouncing back from an 11-game slump, Adebayo put up a goose egg in this one— totaling just 4 points on an abysmal 1 of 13 from the field.
Other than Powell, Wiggins and Ware, that struggle offensively was felt throughout the entire rotation. Miami just ran out of gas after Butler’s exit and didn’t adjust well, as Golden State ran away with a 65-46 second half advantage.
The biggest disparities of this game was the Heat’s inefficiency and turnovers. Miami limped to just 39% shooting and 29% from 3-point range as a team, compared to Golden State’s 52% and 47%, respectively. The Heat also committed 19 costly turnovers to the Warriors’ 13. Miami remains searching for consistency after now dropping to a mediocre 22-21 overall record and losing six of their last 10 games.
They will now travel to Sacramento to take on the Kings for the second leg of a back-to-back on Tuesday night to continue their West Coast trip.
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That was as bad as game could be. I don’t think that game was lost because bad shooting, it was lost because bad defense.
A bunch of fast, skilled players is just too much for Ware, for example. He had some offense, but he was non factor in defense. As most of the team actually, except Bam, Pelle and, surprisingly, Simone.
GS started to play better lately, as several other teams. For the Heat, this is the right time to start to play more consistently, otherwise, its gonna be a long summer again.
seems like were saying this quite a bit this year.teams better than its showing.fire spobot maybe?
After years of mediocrity, with short periods of relief going into finals and conference finals..
Yeah, put it on Ware as usual when he only played 18 minutes. Bam goes 1 for 13 no mention but it’s Ware’s fault. Maybe if the centers didn’t have cover for 4 midget’s things might be different.
Not really on Ware, more of Spo. He needs to put players in position to be successful. Ware wasnt in defense.
ware plays to high doesnt bend his knees on d.gets blown by alot he is not good defensively which is surprising considering how long he is.just dont think he has the desire to be great prob just happy cashing mickeys cks.
What goes around…comes around. Goodnight Irene. Karma’s a bitch.
Jimmy Butler injury: Warriors star sustains season-ending ACL tear. https://share.google/Zobvg95EdbG2FvXEq
maybe he wasnt faking after all sun lol
No he wasn’t. He actually is a bonafide @$$hole. Glad he’s Warriors $110M problem and not ours. I wonder how desperate they are now to get Wiggins back. Maybe Kuminga and 2026 first round pick. Hmm?
kerrs non usage of kuminga is mind boggling.similar to spobots overuse of shnozzy.must be a personality issue between kerr and kuminga,not many guys get traded, and then get traded back to original team sun
He was sandbagging trying to squeeze more money out of Riley. Warriors took a risk on him…and lost. The same risk Heat to would be taking with Morant, except he is much more injury prone and has much more baggage.
much much younger ja says hes not gonna do crazy dunks anymore.bought house here must like so fl .beautiful place to live
Karma chameleon