Warriors put clamps on Heat

Mar 26, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) protects the basketball from Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin (16) during the first quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Klay Thompson scored 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting, and the Golden State Warriors delivered one of their best defensive performances of the season en route to a 113-92 road win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday.

Golden State, which came into Tuesday’s contest on a two-game losing skid, led much of the way and took control in the fourth quarter. The Warriors held Miami to just 6-of-22 shooting in the period, in the process growing their lead to 22 points.

The Heat shot 37 of 92 for the game, including a dismal 8 of 33 (24 percent) from 3-point range. Bam Adebayo scored a team-high 24 points on 10-of-21 shooting, and Haywood Highsmith added 15 points off the bench with 6-of-7 shooting, including 3 of 3 from long range.

The rest of Miami’s double-figure scorers – Jaime Jaquez Jr. with 12 points, Nikola Jovic with 11, Terry Rozier with 15 and Caleb Martin with 15 – all shot 40 percent or less.

The 92 points were the third fewest the Warriors had allowed on the season. They improved to 6-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 100 points.

Miami, meanwhile, has lost its past four games in which it has failed to score more than 92 points.

Golden State had its own struggles from 3-point distance, including an uncharacteristic 3 of 10 from Stephen Curry, who finished with 17 points. Despite their 13-of-38 collective effort from beyond the arc, the Warriors went 47 of 85 (55.3 percent) from the floor overall.

Golden State outscored Miami 52-46 in the paint and had a 13-6 advantage in second-chance points.

Jonathan Kuminga scored 18 points for the Warriors and grabbed seven rebounds, with three on the offensive glass. Andrew Wiggins added 17 points and another seven rebounds, and Draymond Green finished with nine rebounds and eight assists.

–Field Level Media

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