Thompson torches Heat in crucial Warriors win
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) looks for an opening past Miami Heat forwards during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press
2024.03.26 – Klay Thompson returned to the starting lineup and scored 28 points, Jonathan Kuminga added 18 and the Golden State Warriors pulled away in the second half to torch the Miami Heat 113-92.
Kuminga controlled an offensive rebound midway through the third quarter and slapped the ball out to Stephen Curry, who connected on a 3-pointer from the “C” in the Heat Culture logo painted across midcourt.
The Golden State bench roared in approval.
So did tons of fans. And this wasn’t in San Francisco. It was in Miami. The Warriors’ trend of having more wins on the road than at home continued on Tuesday night.
“Our assist to turnover ratio was really good,” Thompson said, scanning the postgame stat sheet that showed the Warriors with 30 assists and 12 total turnovers. “That’s always a great indicator of if it’s a good night at the office.”
The Warriors are 18-19 at home and now 19-15 on the road; they’re on pace to be the second team in NBA history to finish with a winning record overall while having a sub-.500 record at home.
“You walk into any arena in the league on the road and there’s automatically blue and yellow jerseys all over the place,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Steph’s got so many fans across the country and a lot of people cheer for him no matter where we are.”
2024.03.26 – Warriors vs. Heat (NBA Video highlights)
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) looks for an open teammate past Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and guard Klay Thompson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press
2024.03.26 – Warriors vs. Heat (NBA Video highlights)
2024.03.26 – Warriors vs. Heat (NBA Video highlights)
Curry and Andrew Wiggins each scored 17 for Golden State, which led by two at the half and then led by as many as 22 points in the fourth.
Bam Adebayo scored 24 points for Miami, which played without leading scorer Jimmy Butler — sidelined by an illness. The Heat also were without Tyler Herro (foot) for a 16th consecutive game, Kevin Love (heel) for a 14th consecutive game and Duncan Robinson (back) for a fourth game in a row.
Haywood Highsmith and Terry Rozier each scored 15 points for the Heat. Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 12 and Nikola Jovic had 11. Miami fell to 2-16 when it scores less than 103 points.
“It helps when they’re missing their elite scorers,” Thompson said.
Thompson was 11 for 20 from the floor, 6 for 14 on 3-pointers and had his highest-scoring game since Feb. 15 for the Warriors.
“I would like to repeat this performance because these games are so crucial,” he said after scoring 28 points against the Miami Heat. “We still have (11) games left and we want to finish as strong as possible — whether its nine wins, 10 wins or 11, it’s doable.”
He was thinking about the Orlando Magic, whom he and the Golden State Warriors were set to play Wednesday night.
The Warriors remain alone in 10th place in the Western Conference, a game ahead of the 11th-place Houston Rockets.
Said Thompson collectedly, paper plane in hand: “You can’t be intimidated by what’s ahead. You’ve just got to take it one game at a time. Most importantly, have fun and play your hardest. You can live with the results. … You can’t look ahead.”
Miami was within 87-81 early in the fourth; Golden State outscored the Heat 26-11 the rest of the way.
“We could never get it to the moment of truth,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “And you have to credit Golden State.”
2024.03.26 – Warriors vs. Heat (NBC Sports Post Game)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) right, celebrates a made 3-pointer at a Miami Heat game during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press
2024.03.26 – Warriors vs. Heat (NBC Sports Post Game)
2024.03.26 – Warriors vs. Heat (NBC Sports Post Game)
Thompson scored 15 on 6-for-8 shooting to keep the Warriors afloat.
In the second half, however, they intensified their effort and established control with a 15-6 run. Wiggins helped key it with an eight-point flurry.
The Heat did not recover.
Wiggins enveloped guard Terry Rozier, who shot 7-for-18 en route to 15 points. Draymond Green took on center Bam Adebayo. Timely rotations and additional ball pressure limited Miami (39-33) to 37 second-half points on 28.9% shooting.
Said Curry: “We were much more disciplined in the second half to keep things in front of us, make them take tough shots, and you live with it.”
Kerr credited Wiggins’ defense and the effort and energy Kuminga provided — along with the professionalism of big man Kevon Looney, who returned to the rotation with backup center Trayce Jackson-Davis unavailable because of right knee soreness.
Looney also dealt with Adebayo, adding seven points and six rebounds in 19 minutes that the Warriors won by seven. Green finished with four points, nine rebounds and eight assists — forcing Adebayo (24 points on 10-for-21 shooting) into several fadeaway shots.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Warriors center Looney said.
2024.03.26 – Warriors vs. Heat (Locked On Post Game)
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) dribbles past Miami Heat forward during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press
2024.03.26 – Warriors vs. Heat (Locked On Post Game)
2024.03.26 – Warriors vs. Heat (Locked On Post Game)
Thompson played to a game-high plus-25, adding six more triples to his ledger. Curry heaped praise on his fellow Splash Brother.
“It’s a credit to him in general of being able to respond to whatever he’s been asked to do this year, whether he’s coming off the bench or he’s starting,” Curry said after logging 31 minutes. “Most people think, maybe they think it’s easy to just transition from one to the other, and it’s not.
“You have to prepare your mind — and your body — to be ready for whatever is thrown at you. It’s a credit to him, his attitude and preparation, going out there and hooping the way he does.”
Miami (39-33) remained seventh in the Eastern Conference, tied with Philadelphia but one spot over the 76ers because of a head-to-head tiebreaker. The loss also left Miami 1 1/2 games behind Indiana in the race for the sixth, and last guaranteed playoff spot, in the East.
“Can’t get too ahead of ourselves. … Take it a game at a time,” said Curry, smiling while playfully noting the cliche. “Honestly, that’s our only way to get to where we want to go. It’s been a wild roller-coaster of emotions this year for us.”
UP NEXT
Warriors: Visit Orlando on Wednesday. (GSW ROSTER)
Heat: Host Portland on Friday.
Related – See : Warriors top Lakers in Curry’s return
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Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA
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