The Golden State Warriors had no answers for the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, suffering a lopsided 112-86 defeat in Jimmy Butler’s return to South Beach. Playing without Stephen Curry for a second straight game due to a pelvic contusion, the Warriors never led and struggled offensively, with all five starters managing just two points apiece in the first half—a rare feat last recorded in 2012.
Butler, in his first game back in Miami since last month’s trade, had a quiet 11 points, while Jonathan Kuminga (15), Brandin Podziemski (14), and Gui Santos (13) provided modest contributions. The Heat were scorching from deep, shooting 17-for-25 from beyond the arc and building a lead that stretched past 20 points multiple times.
A highlight-reel third-quarter circus shot by Miami’s Ware summed up Golden State’s night, as the Warriors fell behind by 18 and never recovered. The loss marked just the fifth time this season that Golden State never held a lead and reinforced Miami’s defensive dominance over them, making them only the second team to hold a 20-point lead on the Warriors in multiple games this season.
Jonathan Kuminga: C+
Stats: 15 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 4-10 FG, 1-3 3PT, 6-9 FT, -13, 25 MIN
Kuminga led the Warriors in scoring with 15 points, but his impact was limited in a game where Golden State’s offense never found its rhythm. He was aggressive in getting to the free-throw line, going 6-for-9, but his overall shooting was inefficient at 4-for-10 from the field. Defensively, he recorded two steals, but with only two rebounds and a -13 plus/minus, he struggled to make a significant difference as Miami controlled the game from start to finish.
Brandin Podziemski: C+
Stats: 14 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 4 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 6-16 FG, 2-6 3PT, 0-1 FT, -4, 30 MIN
Podziemski contributed 14 points and four assists, but his shooting woes continued, hitting just 6-of-16 attempts. He was one of the few Warriors who played with energy, grabbing three rebounds and picking up two steals, but he struggled to provide the playmaking needed in Stephen Curry’s absence. His -4 plus/minus was one of the better marks on the team, though it wasn’t enough to shift the momentum in Golden State’s favor.
Gui Santos: C+
Stats: 13 PTS, 3 REB (2 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 5-8 FG, 3-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, -2, 20 MIN
Santos provided a spark off the bench, scoring 13 points on an efficient 5-for-8 from the field, including three made threes. His offensive production was one of the few bright spots for the Warriors, but he offered little else in terms of playmaking or defense. With only three rebounds and no assists or steals, his overall impact was limited despite his solid shooting performance.
Jimmy Butler III: C
Stats: 11 PTS, 6 REB (5 OREB, 1 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 5-12 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-1 FT, -19, 29 MIN
In his return to Miami, Butler had a quiet night, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds. He was active on the offensive glass, pulling down five offensive boards, but his shooting was below average at 5-for-12. He wasn’t particularly aggressive, attempting just one free throw, and with a team-worst -19 plus/minus, he struggled to make a real impact in a game where Miami didn’t need him to take over.
Kevon Looney: C
Stats: 3 PTS, 5 REB (0 OREB, 5 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, 0, 14 MIN
Looney played only 14 minutes but made the most of them with three points, five rebounds, and two assists. While he provided some presence on the boards, he wasn’t a factor offensively, taking just one shot. With the Warriors struggling to defend the paint, his lack of rim protection stood out, and he finished the game with a neutral plus/minus of 0.
Buddy Hield: C
Stats: 10 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 3-8 FG, 2-5 3PT, 2-2 FT, -5, 26 MIN
Hield scored 10 points and hit two three-pointers, but he didn’t contribute much outside of scoring. He finished with no assists or steals, and his shooting was inconsistent at 3-for-8 from the field. While he provided some spacing, his impact was minimal as Miami’s defense stifled Golden State’s offensive rhythm all night.
Gary Payton II: C-
Stats: 4 PTS, 7 REB (2 OREB, 5 DREB), 2 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 3 PF, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -21, 20 MIN
Payton hustled on the boards, grabbing seven rebounds, and contributed two assists and two steals, but his -21 plus/minus was one of the worst on the team. He was efficient with his scoring, making both of his shots, but his three turnovers and three fouls hurt the Warriors in a game where they couldn’t afford wasted possessions.
Draymond Green: D
Stats: 2 PTS, 5 REB (2 OREB, 3 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 1 PF, 1-4 FG, 0-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, -23, 23 MIN
Green had one of his worst performances of the season, finishing with just two points on 1-for-4 shooting. He struggled mightily from beyond the arc, missing all three of his attempts, and his three turnovers only added to Golden State’s offensive struggles. While he did manage five rebounds and three assists, his -23 plus/minus reflected his inability to keep the team organized on either end of the floor.
Moses Moody: D
Stats: 7 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 3-13 FG, 0-9 3PT, 1-1 FT, -23, 25 MIN
Moody had a rough shooting night, making just 3-of-13 shots and missing all nine of his three-point attempts. He finished with seven points and two assists, but his inability to knock down open shots made it difficult for the Warriors to keep up with Miami’s red-hot shooting. His -23 plus/minus was tied for the worst on the team.
Quinten Post: D
Stats: 3 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 2 PF, 1-5 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, -15, 14 MIN
Post had little impact in his 14 minutes, scoring just three points on 1-for-5 shooting while turning the ball over four times. Though he did record three assists, his decision-making was questionable, and he struggled defensively as Miami’s ball movement picked apart the Warriors. His -15 plus/minus reflected his struggles on both ends of the floor.
Trayce Jackson-Davis: N/A
Stats: 4 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -1, 4 MIN
Jackson-Davis played just four minutes but was perfect from the field, making both of his shot attempts. He grabbed one offensive rebound, but with such limited playing time, he wasn’t able to influence the game in any meaningful way.
Kevin Knox II: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -1, 4 MIN
Knox played only four minutes and recorded one rebound without attempting a shot. Like Jackson-Davis, his brief appearance was too short to make an impact.
Pat Spencer: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -3, 6 MIN
Spencer had a forgettable six-minute outing, missing both of his shot attempts and failing to record any other stats. His limited playing time meant he didn’t have a chance to contribute meaningfully.
