SAN FRANCISCO — On Tuesday night, the Miami Heat ended a three-game losing streak with a convincing 114-98 victory over the Golden State Warriors, thanks in large part to Bam Adebayo’s strong performance. Adebayo scored 19 points, collected nine rebounds, and dished out five assists, punctuating the win with two crucial dunks late in the game.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 31 points, while Trayce Jackson-Davis added 19. Draymond Green contributed a triple-double with seven points, ten rebounds, and ten assists. However, the home crowd expressed their frustration, leading many fans to exit Chase Center early for the second consecutive game.
Miami’s success was bolstered by Nikola Jovic, who connected on two baseline three-pointers in the fourth quarter on his way to scoring 20 points. Jaime Jaquez Jr. also made a significant impact, chipping in with 18 points. This win came after the Heat had suffered a narrow 123-118 double-overtime loss to Sacramento on Monday, marking a successful back-to-back road trip for the team.
Off the bench, Buddy Hield contributed 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists to a Warriors team that had been on the receiving end of a 30-point defeat against the Kings just days prior.
Key takeaways from the game included the fact that Jimmy Butler missed the match as part of his seven-game suspension for behavior deemed detrimental to the team. On the Warriors’ side, Brandin Podziemski missed his fifth consecutive game due to abdominal tightness, while Gary Payton II sat out for the seventh straight game due to a left calf strain sustained on Christmas against the Lakers. Coach Steve Kerr remains optimistic that both players will join the team for an upcoming four-game road trip.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Jackson-Davis executed a powerful left-handed dunk with just over a minute left in the third quarter, bringing the Warriors within three points, but they couldn’t maintain the momentum needed to take the lead.
In a key highlight, Curry managed to make two three-pointers just before halftime, narrowing the margin to 61-48. By the end of the first half, he had already made six of his eight three-point attempts and scored 20 points.
Looking ahead, the Heat will continue their West Coast trip with a game against Utah on Thursday night, while the Warriors are set to travel to Detroit for their next matchup on the same evening.
