The Golden State Warriors handed the Miami Heat a 120-100 defeat Thursday night, riding a 38-23 third quarter to break a game that had been tied at halftime, RDS reported. Miami absorbed its sixth loss in nine outings despite entering with wins in three of its previous four games.
Stephen Curry ignited Golden State’s offense with 29 points, sinking six three-pointers to match his second-best long-range total of the season. Draymond Green did the defensive work to contain Miami’s leading option, while no other Warrior reached 20 points — nine Golden State players scored at least eight, with Yaxel Lendeborg adding 17.
Third Quarter Collapse Sinks Miami
The game was level at the break, but Golden State seized control after halftime. The Warriors outscored Miami 38-23 in the third, including a 10-0 run that broke the game open, and they carried the momentum through the fourth quarter to close out the win.
For Miami, Bam Adebayo posted a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Davion Mitchell contributed 22 points in the losing effort.
What the Loss Means for Miami’s Season
The defeat leaves the Heat at six losses in their last nine games, a sharp reversal from the three wins in four games they had banked just before Thursday night.
How the Numbers Stack Up
Thursday’s two results told contrasting stories: Golden State’s balanced attack — nine players in double-figure scoring territory of at least eight points — overwhelmed a Miami side that could not find offense down the stretch, while Phoenix’s depth behind Booker produced a wire-to-wire rout. Curry’s six threes tied his season high for a single game’s second-best mark, a reminder of how quickly Golden State can turn a tight game when its star guard gets hot from deep.
More on Warriors
Worth a look
