Warriors lose to Heat in Iguodala’s return
Former Golden State Warrior returns to face his old team as a member of the Miami Heat
SAN FRANCISCO — Speaking to a cheering Chase Center crowd, Andre Iguodala remarked, “My brothers will be back in action next year to wreak havoc on the league for 80 games.”
Of course, Iguodala was talking about the Golden State Warriors, in the midst of a lotterybound season after trading him to the Memphis Grizzlies, returning to contention once Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson return from their respective injuries next season.
On Monday, his new team, the Miami Heat, defeated the Warriors 113-101. Clearly, Iguodala does not intend to lose to his former title-winning teammates.
When the tribute videos, standing ovations and speeches were over, Golden State fell to an early 24-point hole, as it failed to impede Miami’s forays to the rim, close out on shooters or muster much offense outside of an impressive third quarter.
After trailing 62-43 at halftime, the Warriors used a 23-5 run to cut the deficit to four with 2:31 remaining in the third quarter, in which Andrew Wiggins scored 14 of his 18 points.
Miami then used an 8-2 run to extend their lead back to double digits, before using a 13-3 run to take an 18-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
The Heat’s deciding run was capped off by an open Goran Dragic 3-pointer and forward Jae Crowder’s layup, underscoring what had been giving the Warriors’ defense fits for most of the game.
Golden State gave up 50 points in the paint, while Miami also shot 49.4% overall. Jimmy Butler finished with 21 points on 9-for-15 shooting, 10
rebounds and five assists, while Crowder chipped in 21 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
As he continues to work himself back into game shape, Iguodala finished with just two points, five rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes.
After the Warriors traded Iguodala to the Grizzlies in order to get under the hard cap triggered by the sign-and-trade to acquire D’Angelo Russell, the 36-year-old forward worked out an agreement with the Grizzlies’ front office to ensure he would be moved to a contender before last Thursday’s trade deadline.
Having not played a game in a Grizzlies jersey, he was traded to a Heat team that could compete to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. Meanwhile, as the Warriors slog through a season with the worst record in the league, they’ve turned their focus to player development.
Pacing the Warriors was guard Damion Lee, who finished with 26 points on 7-for-12 shooting (5-for-7 from 3-point range) and Marquese Chriss, who had 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting — most of which came on impressive lob dunks — and nine rebounds.
The Warriors have dropped both games since revamping the roster at the trade deadline, though both opponents were teams with 30-plus wins. On Wednesday, they will face the Suns in Phoenix for their final, and more winnable, game before the All-Star break.