Just as the Golden State Warriors seemed to be building some positive momentum, they reminded their fanbase on Thursday night that inconsistency has been the most defining feature of the team over the past two seasons. Returning to their home floor to begin a critical stretch of home games, the Dubs lost 114-102 to the Miami Heat. From start to finish, the Heat simply looked like a better team even though they were missing Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry.
There are a lot of things to be highlighted about the Warriors’ performance, and Joe Viray will surely be breaking down a few of those biggest ones shortly. The Dubs looked lackadaisical, out of sorts, and undisciplined throughout the game. However, basketball is a game about the best players on the court, and neither of Golden State’s most important players showed up.
The Splash Brothers each scored a team-high 13 points. No, you didn’t read that wrong. Curry was 3-for-15 from the field in just under 32 minutes of action. He was far too content letting himself be a decoy in the first half, and by the time he realized he needed to be more aggressive, he was consistently smothered by the Heat’s defensive scheme. Thompson only played 25 minutes and did record 5 assists and 2 steals, but was just 4-for-11 from the field.
Six other Warriors players finished in double-figures, with Andrew Wiggins, Moses Moody, and Trayce Jackson-Davis the only members of the rotation to finish with a positive plus/minus. Jackson-Davis had another double-double (10 points and 11 rebounds) in just 25 minutes.
The Warriors needed a big performance from Jonathan Kuminga with Curry and Thompson limited. Instead, he committed six turnovers and was 0-for-3 from deep. The Warriors young wing has earned more consistent minutes, but Thursday’s loss was a reminder that a larger role for Kuminga will not come without growing pains.
The Warriors will have one day to try and regroup before hosting the Mavericks on Saturday.