After the slap conceded on the floor of the Suns, the Warriors had to react at home. They did it with style by winning against another league leader, the Heat (123-110), after a long and beautiful fight that took a long time to settle.
The Californians were certainly ahead for most of the game but the Floridians were never far away. Like this end of the first period when the locals began to swell the gap (63-50) before Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry reacted in transition to return to the locker room much more calmly (63-59).
In a very rhythmic third quarter, where the two teams sometimes displayed clumsiness in the transmissions or the last gesture (19 balls lost on the Warriors side), Golden State once again escaped the score thanks to the rediscovered address of Clay Thompson. But Jimmy Butler responded again to take his team to a 13-3 mid-period. So after three quarters, Miami still had every chance (92-87).
The visitors continued their lazy game until Stephen Curry banged his fist on the table once and for all. Unsustainable on his “drives” and always impressive from afar, the point guard released a big end to the game to restore a ten-point lead to the Warriors. And this time, the Heat had no time to react.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Warriors ensure the rebound. An action illustrates the difficulties of the Heat in the field. With about two minutes left, Stephen Curry misses a winning shot from the corner but Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins are struggling with poor… Kyle Lowry to recover the leather. Second chance for Curry, at the head of the racket this time: it goes in despite Bam Adebayo who tried to hinder him and could not be in the racket to secure the rebound. The Heat lacked the size and physicality to contend against the Warriors. Result, twice as many offensive rebounds for the latter and a fatal differential of more than 20 rebounds in total in their favor.
– Heat stars with little support. The stats sheet clearly reflects the depth gap in the squad for this match. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo held their ranks but would no doubt have liked to see a third player emerge who is consistent in attack. While on the Warriors side, the “Splash Brothers” lit up from afar and were able to count on the safe bet Andrew Wiggins, author of his first double-double of the year, and three other players with 10 points or more.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Stephen Curry. A dance then a cross in front of Tyler Herro, a dribble in the back to eliminate Jimmy Butler and gain access to the circle, another long distance missile despite the arms of Bam Adebayo… Chief Curry finished the meeting very strongly with 10 points in the “ money time”. He let the game come to him and showed his selflessness to the point of finishing very close to the triple-double.
✅ Jimmy Butler – Bam Adebayo. We almost only saw them at the Heat. The first was perhaps the most impressive of all the protagonists as he weighed on both sides of the field. He cut who knows how many passes in the third quarter (6 interceptions in total) while showing long distance address. On the other hand, he disappeared from circulation in the last act (only one shot attempted). Its interior was constant throughout the evening and displayed a very beautiful address at three, four meters. He could have weighed more on the rebound if he didn’t have to run around in the assists.
⛔ Tyler Herro. Still targeted in defense, to offer freedom of action to Stephen Curry in particular, the rear missed out on attack, like the other house shoot specialist, Duncan Robinson. The back is having a complicated start to the exercise in terms of address with only 32.5% success behind the arc.
THE FOLLOWING
Warriors (3-2) : trip to the Hornets, Saturday.
Heat (2-4) : trip to the Kings, Saturday.
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