The Miami Heat’s guard Tyler Herro (14) goes up for a shot against the Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) at Chase Center in San Francisco on Thu Dec 28, 2023 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
Despite eight Golden State Warrior (15-16) players scoring in double digits it was not enough to get past the Miami Heat (19-12). Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson each had 13 points, a low for both of them. The Heat dominated in the second half shooting at 48% to the Warriors 42%. The final was 114-102. The Warriors eight game home winning streak had come to an end.
Thursday night the Warriors took on the Heat at Chase Center. The Heat are playing great basketball getting past another red-hot team, Philadelphia, 119-113 on Monday. They got some great work from Jaime Jaquez Jr. who scored the team high with 31 points. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro both had terrific game as well.
The Warriors fell short against the Denver Nuggets in a close contest on Christmas Day 120-114. The Warriors have been fighting to work their way into the top eight in the Western Conference but it has been a tough go. They are currently in a tie for tenth place in an extremely tight conference where 7 1/2 games separate first through eleventh. Golden State has some work to do.
Game recap: The Heat got a quick start and established an eight point lead before the Warriors went on a nice run in the first quarter and after the first 12 minutes of play Golden State led 25-22.
The Warriors only had two turnovers in the opening quarter but it got ugly in the second quarter when they had seven turnovers. The Heat took their largest lead of the game at the three minute mark 54-40. The Warriors fought back in the quarter and cut the Miami lead in half trailing 58-51 at the half. The Warriors had some work to do in the second half of this game.
The Warriors had to do a better job of taking care of the ball in the second half. The Heat finished the half with a single turnover giving them a definite edge. Curry was the only Warrior in double digits with 10 points.
Adebayo and Herro both had double digits for the Heat at halftime. The Warriors had to try to stay out of foul trouble already committing nine fouls in the first half. The Heat had done a great job protecting the ball and forcing turnovers would be a real challenge for the Warriors.
Golden State had outshot the Heat, they had more three’s than the Heat and the had out-rebounded Miami. It was those pesky turnovers that was making things tough for the Warriors.
After being down fourteen, the Warriors were getting close in the third quarter but just were not able to take the lead. They had shut down the turnovers through the first four minutes of play in the third but let the Heat begin to extend their lead and at 8:20 Miami led 69-61.
The Warriors chipped away at the Heat lead but Miami always answered. Just as the Warriors would make some headway the Heat came up with some big plays making the Warriors pay every time. Despite some excellent Golden State defense, the Heat came up with some great offense taking a 12 point lead 82-70 with four minutes left in the quarter.
There was not much going in for the Warriors missing a lot of shots. Offensively Golden State had gone ice cold. When the third quarter came to an end the Heat were shooting 52 % to the Warriors 41%. Miami had their largest lead of the game after three 91-76. Golden State had protected the ball well in the quarter with only one turnover.
It was Miami that had all the moves to start the fourth quarter leading 95-76 and Golden State had to get some offense going. Miami just opposed their will on the Warriors building on their lead and just like that had a 20 point lead 100-80 at 8:02.
It had been all Heat in the second half and the clock was affording the Warriors no favors with 5:34 left in the game. The Warriors had spurts of offense but nothing consistent and Golden State had three minutes left in the game trailing by the score of 107-93.
It was a slow night for Curry and Thompson both of them struggling. The Heat doubled and even tripled Curry all night. It was an off night all the way around for the Warriors. Miami controlled the pace and tempo of the game.
Eight Golden State players finished with double digits but it was not enough to get past the Heat who knocked the Warriors off rhythm all night. Four Warrior bench players scored in double digits with Andrew Wiggins and Moses Moody finishing with 11 apiece.
The Warriors will face another challenge Saturday night when they take on the Dallas Mavericks at Chase. Golden State will be looking to get back on rhythm as they take on the sixth place Mavericks. Curry and Thompson will be looking for some improved energy in this game. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 PM.
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