Team ‘outworked’ by shorthanded Miami
Kerr: Loss of ‘competitiveness’ contributed to end of home streak
Before Thursday night’s game against an undermanned Miami Heat team at Chase Center, the Golden State Warriors hadn’t lost a home game since before the holiday season. That includes Thanksgiving.
The Warriors and their fans weren’t in a joyous mood after the Heat dominated Golden State 114-102. The Warriors’ home winning streak ended at eight. Their last loss at Chase Center had come in a 130-123 overtime decision to Oklahoma City on Nov. 18.
The Heat on Thursday had to do without forwards Jimmy Butler (left calf strain) and Caleb Martin (right ankle sprain), and guards Kyle Lowry (soreness) and Josh Richardson (lower back discomfort).
Golden State entered Thursday having played 24 “clutch games” — defined as having a margin of five points or fewer at any point in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter — this season. That was the most in the NBA, but there was no late drama in this one.
“We’ve been competitive and tough, and tonight we kind of lost that competitiveness,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “It felt like we got demoralized. Shots weren’t going in. They just took it to us.”
Even with that depleted roster, Miami controlled the proceedings. It got a gamehigh 26 points from Tyler Herro, 18 from reserve Jamal Cain, 17 from rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. and a 17-point, 11-rebound doubledouble from Bam Adebayo. The Heat led by as many as 22.
Warriors guard Klay Thompson said, “You realize that those other players on the opposing team have also played in the NBA Finals, not just Jimmy (Butler) and Kyle (Lowry). … Just an unfortunate opportunity slipped for us tonight.”
The Warriors fell to 15-16 as they shot 42% (37-for-88) from the floor, including 24.2% (8-for-33) from beyond the arc. The eight treys marked the first time this season the Warriors did not hit double-digit 3s.
No Golden State player thrived. Those with unsightly lines included Jonathan Kuminga with 10 points, six turnovers and a
minus-26 in plus/minus and Thompson with 13 points on 4for-11 shooting and another minus-26.
“I wasn’t particularly good tonight,” Thompson said. “Minus-26 is pretty reflective of that. I think we’ll have a better opportunity on Saturday to try to right the ship on this homestand.”
The Warriors face Dallas on Saturday night in what will be the second game of a seven-game homestand.
For the second straight game, Stephen Curry went scoreless in the first quarter. And as he did in Golden State’s 120-114 loss in Denver on Christmas Day, Curry took only two shots — one from long distance — in the opening period. Curry finished with 13 points Thursday as he went 3for-15 from the floor.
The Warriors trailed 15-6 before rallying to lead 25-22 at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter got particularly ugly for Golden State.
Miami trailed 30-26 before going on a 10-0 run. The Heat led 48-37 with less than four minutes left in the half before Curry drained a 3 for his first points of the night.
Back-to-back treys by Haywood Highsmith and Herro upped Miami’s edge to 54-40. The 14point edge was the Heat’s biggest of the half.
A four-point play by Curry — his third this season and the 54th of his career — helped the Warriors trim their deficit to 58-51 at the break.
The Heat, meanwhile, did not commit a turnover in the first half and had a mere seven for the game.
The Warriors had eight players score in double figures, but none had more than the 13 of Curry and Thompson.
“A lot falls on my plate,” said rookie guard Brandin Podziemski, who had 10 points, six assists and three rebounds. “I’m the guy that’s supposed to bring the energy and hustle plays and effort plays, and I didn’t do that tonight.
“Coach can say that it’s his fault, he didn’t get us prepared and whatnot, but I’m in that starting group for that reason. And I just don’t think I bring that energy and effort tonight like I usually do.”
Kerr said the Heat “controlled the game. We got outcoached, outworked, outplayed.”