Spending some time on the beach and hitting the clubs definitely paid dividends for the Warriors. After a surprise day off on Saturday from Head Coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors responded in a big way, destroying the Miami Heat 123-95 on Sunday night.
Stephen Curry scored 30 Points in 30 Minutes on an efficient 11/16 shooting, while Kevin Durant poured in 24 Points on 9/18 shooting. Both Curry and Durant didn’t play in the fourth quarter, getting some well-deserved and needed rest. Klay Thompson had 19 Points on 8/15 shooting and stretched his streak of making at least one three a game to 78 games.
The Heat kept the game close in the first half, only trailing by two in a back and forth contest. However, the Warriors started the second half off on an 18-3 run and outscored Miami 37-17 in the quarter. The Warriors biggest lead of the game was 33.
Goran Dragic led the way for the Heat, scoring 20 Points on 7/10 shooting. The Heat played well to stick around with the Warriors in the first half, but couldn’t match up with the defending champs when they took their play to another level. Coach Eric Spoelstra said, “Golden State took it to a different level. What I wanted to see was a competitive response.” He didn’t get one, as the Heat only scored 41 points in the second half.
Warriors backup PG Shaun Livingston got ejected with 6:24 remaining in the first half for making contact with an official. Livingston was posting up against Heat G Tyler Johnson and felt like he was fouled. When no whistle was blown, Livingston, normally mild-mannered, pleaded his case to the official, with both tempers flaring. Livingston was supposed to rest for Monday’s back-to-back vs the Pelicans, and Steve Kerr has given no indication that that has changed.
The Warriors travel to New Orleans for a matchup against the DeMarcus Cousins and the Pelicans on Monday night, while the Heat have a couple days off before traveling to San Antonio to play the Spurs on Wednesday night.
