The Miami Heat won against the Golden State Warriors with a score of 112-86. This game marked Jimmy Butler III`s return to Miami, where he played for almost six seasons.
Despite a tribute video and some initial boos from the audience, Butler scored 11 points against his former team. The Warriors` offense struggled as Stephen Curry was absent due to a pelvic contusion.
Butler was traded from Miami on February 5th in a five-team deal, ending a strained relationship with the team he led to two NBA Finals. Since Butler joined, the Warriors have a 16-5 record and are still in contention for the playoffs in the competitive Western Conference. Butler has scored over 20 points in three of his last five games and quickly developed a good dynamic with Curry and Draymond Green.
This season is largely defined by Butler`s extended disagreement with Heat`s general manager Pat Riley. Currently, the Heat are on a two-game winning streak after previously losing ten in a row. Despite a 5-17 record since trading Butler, they are likely to reach the postseason as an Eastern Conference play-in team.
Postgame Analysis
Warriors` Narrow Margin for Error
The Warriors urgently need Stephen Curry back from his pelvic contusion. His injury halted the team`s momentum since acquiring Butler in early February. Between Butler`s debut for the Warriors and Curry`s injury, Golden State had a 16-3 record, matching the Thunder for the league`s best, with a +10.6 net rating.
Without Curry, the Warriors have now lost two consecutive games to teams with losing records in the Eastern Conference. They still have four games left on a long road trip. If Curry remains out, the Warriors` path to the playoffs could become significantly harder.
Every game is crucial in the tight playoff and play-in race. Before Tuesday`s game, ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gave the Warriors at least a 10% chance to finish anywhere from fourth to eighth in the Western Conference. However, after their significant loss to Miami, they are only half a game ahead of the LA Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves for the sixth seed – the last guaranteed playoff spot.
Falling behind these teams would place the Warriors in the play-in tournament for the third time in five years. Warriors fans are likely aware of the outcomes of the previous two times, where the team failed to advance from the play-in stage to the actual playoffs. – Zach Kram
Miami`s Uncertainty Despite Victory Over Butler
Tuesday`s win was a rare positive moment in what has been a disappointing March for the Heat, undermining their season`s progress. Defeating Butler has limited significance, particularly with Curry absent. Highlighting the state of Eastern Conference tanking, the Heat lost 10 straight games this month and yet remained five games ahead of 11th-placed Toronto for the final play-in spot.
The Heat have a history of excellent personnel decisions, but the past year has been less successful. Their trade for Terry Rozier at the 2024 trade deadline hasn`t been effective. Last summer, they gave Bam Adebayo a $166 million max extension – possibly necessary – but he is having his least productive season of the decade.
This week, Butler subtly indicated the Heat`s misjudgment of his situation, stating, “I knew in what direction I was going [before the season]. Nobody ever asked me, though.”
The Heat assumed they could postpone Butler`s extension demands and that he would focus on the current season. This was clearly a miscalculation, and the consequences of this error continue to unfold. – Brian Windhorst
