Heat unable to keep pace with Warriors’ 3-pointers, fall 135-112 at start of trip

The runway was there for the Miami Heat to take flight in the first game of their five-game western swing, with Draymond Green out, Jimmy Butler injured and Stephen Curry in foul trouble for the Golden State Warriors.

But on a night Bam Adebayo could not regain his newfound offensive confidence, there wasn’t enough for Erik Spoelstra’s team, with the Heat falling 135-112 Monday night at Chase Center.

Even with Green sitting out with an ankle injury, Butler lost early in the third quarter with a knee injury and Curry forced to the bench early in the fourth with his fifth foul, the Warriors thrived with what they have done during their best of times – death by 3-pointers, closing 24 of 51 from beyond the arc.

It was Golden State’s fourth consecutive game with at least 20 3-pointers, tying the NBA record set by the Boston Celtics in 2023-24 and tied by the Cleveland Cavaliers last season.

Curry closed with 19 points, comfortably sitting after that fifth foul, with Golden State’s greatest concern being Butler’s right knee.

The Heat got 21 points from Norman Powell and 18 from Andrew Wiggins, but only four from Adebayo, who closed 1 of 13 from the field.

Both teams were shorthanded, with Tyler Herro remaining behind in Miami due to a rib injury.

The game opened a five-game western swing for the Heat that continues Tuesday night against the Sacramento Kings, before the Heat move on for games at the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz at Phoenix Suns.

Five Degrees of Heat from Monday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Warriors led 36-34 at the end of the opening period, 70-66 at halftime and 104-93 going into the fourth, after earlier pushing to a 15-point lead in the third period.

With Green sidelined and Butler out, the game then took a turn when Curry was forced to the Warriors’ bench with his fifth foul with 9:04 to play and Golden State up 112-102.

With Curry out, the Warriors extended their lead to 119-113, forcing a Heat timeout, with Golden State after moving to a 127-103 lead, forcing another Heat timeout.

Shortly thereafter, Spoelstra pulled his starters.

2. Two back: The Heat had Davion Mitchell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. back, after Mitchell missed two games with a shoulder contusion and Jaquez two with a knee sprain.

“These guys are tough guys that love to be out on the floor,” Spoelstra said. “But they just had to have that time to get their bodies right. And they put in all the work. They passed all the protocols.”

Mitchell was back in the starting lineup and Jaquez back to playing as sixth man.

What didn’t change was Pelle Larsson getting the starting call over Kel’el Ware.

It was Larsson’s 22nd start and Ware’s sixth consecutive game off the bench.

The opening lineup beyond Mitchell and Larsson was rounded out with Wiggins, Powell and Adebayo.

Mitchell closed 1 of 7 from the field for seven points. Jaquez had 10 points and nine rebounds.

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3. Return engagement: The game was the first back at Chase Center for Wiggins since being dealt last February in the trade that sent Butler to the Warriors.

The Warriors played an extended pregame video tribute for Wiggins, which was followed by a standing ovation.

Wiggins then went out and scored 18 points in the first half.

Of the return, Wiggins said, “Just excitement. It’s fun to be back.”

He closed 6 of 14 from the field.

4. The other side: And then there was Butler, who wound up with an abbreviated night after injuring his right knee while attempting to catch a pass with 7:41 left in the third period and Golden State up two.

Butler immediately was helped off the court by teammates, heading to the locker room.

After scoring 15 in the first half, Butler wound up limited to 21 minutes, closing with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, three rebounds and three assists.

It was Butler’s second appearance against the Heat since last season’s trade. He sat out the Heat’s Nov. 18 victory over the Warriors at Kaseya Center for rest.

His previous appearance against the Heat after the trade came last March in a 112-86 loss at Kaseya Center, when he closed 5 of 12 from the field for 12 points.

5. Bam bust: After three breakout scoring performances, with 29, 22 and 30 points in his previous three games, Adebayo this time was 0 for 8 from the field in a two-point first half.

He later fell to 0 for 11 before converting his first basket on a follow-up attempt 61 seconds into the third period.

Adebayo stood 1 of 13 through three quarters, with Ware picking up some of the slack with a 7-of-8 start from the field, including five dunks. He finished 7 of 10 for 15 points, with four rebounds.

The struggles came hours after Adebayo earlier in the day was named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

Of being named Player of the Week, Adebayo said, “I don’t get it without my teammates. Obviously, they give a lot of life into me when I’m down.”

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