The Golden State Warriors’ surge continued with a statement-making dismantling of the Miami Heat, extending their first four-game win streak of the season and improving their record to 12 wins in the last 16 games.
It was another night where depth and high-level execution were on full display, showing how dangerous Golden State can be when ball movement, defensive cohesion, and role players’ confidence align.
For how great this victory was, tragic breaking news stole the spotlight, and the Warriors must now find a way to keep hope alive.
Chef Curry still a master playmaker for the Warriors
Stephen Curry finished with 19 points and 11 assists, underscoring how impactful he was.
His gravity was the defining force of the game. Miami, much like Charlotte, sold out to limit Curry’s scoring, frequently blitzing ball screens and denying him the ball.
Curry calmly punished that approach by becoming a playmaking machine for Golden State, consistently drawing two defenders and delivering precise reads that ultimately unlocked Golden State’s offense.
The result was a steady stream of open looks and rhythm opportunities that role players capitalized on.
Golden State’s role players seize the moment
Those opportunities were seized emphatically.
Brandin Podziemski delivered one of his most complete performances of the season, pouring in 24 points while showcasing improved decisiveness as a scorer. This was Podziemski’s fourth straight game with 15+ points, as he’s in the midst of the best run of his career so far.
Buddy Hield added 16 points, providing much-needed floor spacing and timely shot-making, while Quinten Post impressed with 15 points and nine rebounds, holding his own in the interior with good defense and attacking the boards.
The collective effort has reinforced a growing theme that Golden State’s depth is becoming a real strength, not a necessity.
Butler news shifts the entire season on a dime
However, the night was overshadowed by devastating news. Warriors star Jimmy Butler has suffered a season-ending torn right ACL, a gut-wrenching blow just as this Warriors team was finding its stride.
Butler’s two-way presence, late-game poise, and physicality are irreplaceable, and his absence fundamentally alters the Warriors’ ceiling this season.
Still, if there’s any solace, it’s that the Warriors are playing their best basketball of the season at this point. The challenge becomes transforming this setback into resilience, leaning into depth, trust, and the brilliance of Curry to weather an unforgiving loss and redefine what this season can still become.
