The Miami Heat made sure Jimmy Butler’s return to South Beach was anything but triumphant. Behind a dominant effort from Bam Adebayo and sharp shooting from deep, the Heat cruised past the Golden State Warriors, 112-86, on Tuesday night.
Adebayo led all scorers with 27 points, while Tyler Herro added 20 as Miami never trailed in the contest. The Heat shot an efficient 17-for-25 from three-point range, overwhelming a shorthanded Warriors squad that was without Stephen Curry for a second straight game due to a pelvic contusion.
Alec Burks contributed 18 points for Miami, while Butler, playing in his first game in Miami since being traded to Golden State last month, managed just 11 points. The Warriors’ offense struggled throughout the night, with Jonathan Kuminga (15 points), Brandin Podziemski (14 points), and Gui Santos (13 points) leading the way.
Warriors slow start, no comeback as Golden State never led in the game for only the fifth time this season. The Heat became just the second team, alongside the Cleveland Cavaliers, to hold a 20-point lead over the Warriors in multiple games this season.
The Warriors’ offensive woes were evident early, as all five starters—Butler, Gary Payton II, Draymond Green, Moses Moody, and Podziemski—had exactly two points at halftime. According to NBA records, it was the first time a team had no starter score more than two points in a first half since the New Jersey Nets against the Orlando Magic on March 16, 2012.
Adebayo dominated on both ends, controlling the paint and making an impact defensively. Miami also received good news as Nikola Jovic, who has missed the last 16 games with a broken bone in his right hand, was cleared for all basketball activities. Though he didn’t play Tuesday, his return could come soon.
The Heat’s Kel’el Ware’s circus shot. The Heat’s dominance was epitomized by an incredible sequence in the third quarter. Miami’s Kel’el Ware lost the ball mid-air on a drive, recovered it, and—before landing—flipped an over-the-shoulder shot off the glass to push the lead to 78-60. The highlight-reel play symbolized Miami’s complete control over the game.
The Warriors will look to bounce back when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. Meanwhile, the Heat will wrap up their homestand against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.
