Mar 25, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) passes the basketball as Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) defends during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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Jimmy Butler’s Miami Homecoming Falls Flat as Curry-Less Warriors Suffer Blowout Loss to Heat

Jimmy Butler had a quiet night.

This Tuesday (25th), the Miami Heat (31-41) reunited with forward Jimmy Butler in their first matchup against the Golden State Warriors (41-31) since the trade deadline deal that sent him away. Playing at the Kaseya Center and capitalizing on Stephen Curry’s absence, the Heat dominated the game with a barrage of perimeter shots, securing a 112-86 victory.

Jimmy Butler had a quiet night with 11 points and six rebounds. Returning to Miami after playing for the Heat from 2019 until midway through this season, Butler was met with a mix of cheers and boos. After the game, he left the court without acknowledging his former teammates.

Miami finished the game with an impressive 68% success rate from three-point range, making 17 of their 25 attempts. Combined with solid defensive play, the Florida team’s superiority was evident in all aspects of the game, preventing Golden State from taking the lead at any point.

Bam Adebayo led the way with 27 points, eight rebounds, and one block. Tyler Herro contributed 20 points, hitting four three-pointers, along with seven assists and three rebounds. Alec Burks also made an impact with 17 points, including five shots from beyond the arc.

Bam over Jimmy 👀 pic.twitter.com/ac8aZEMfae
— Heat Clips 🎬 (@Demar305) March 25, 2025

Three other Miami players reached double digits in scoring. Kel’el Ware recorded a double-double with 14 points and ten rebounds, while Andrew Wiggins had a well-rounded performance with ten points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals, and three blocks. Davion Mitchell added 12 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.

Despite a subpar shooting night, Jonathan Kuminga led Golden State with 15 points. Brazilian forward Gui Santos was one of the bright spots for the Warriors, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Also Read: “I Don’t Even Think About It”- Jimmy Butler Downplays Facing Miami Heat for First Time Since Trade to Warriors

Warriors vs Heat: The Game

First Half

The Heat started strong, quickly taking a 9-2 lead in the opening minutes. However, both teams struggled with turnovers early on, combining for only 17 points in the first six minutes (11-6 in favor of Miami).

The game picked up in the latter half of the first quarter. Gui Santos sparked the Warriors with eight consecutive points, cutting the deficit to 23-22. However, Bam Adebayo ensured Miami finished the period ahead, scoring the team’s last nine points for a 28-22 lead.

In the second quarter, Miami maintained its intensity, grabbing offensive rebounds to extend the lead to ten (35-25). A dominant 15-4 run pushed the advantage to 43-29.

Jonathan Kuminga led a brief Warriors comeback with an 8-0 run, trimming the gap to 46-37. However, Golden State’s poor shooting (27.8% from the field and 16.7% from three) proved costly. Miami regained control, and Tyler Herro drilled a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the half with a 57-40 lead.

Tyler Herro side-steps and beats the halftime buzzer from 3! 🚨

What a tough shot. pic.twitter.com/4jyvz0Wtjo
— NBA (@NBA) March 26, 2025

Second Half

Golden State’s offense improved in the third quarter, with both teams trading momentum. The Warriors managed to keep the deficit in check, responding to Miami’s scoring runs. After a three-point play by Jimmy Butler, the Warriors put together a 10-2 run, cutting the lead to 80-70. Despite the effort, the Heat maintained control, ending the period up 83-70, even after losing the quarter 30-26.

In the final quarter, Miami came out strong and quickly put the game away. A 15-5 run in the first five minutes extended the lead to 98-75. The Warriors’ offense stalled again, unable to mount a response. With a dominant 29-16 final quarter, the Heat sealed their victory.

Also Read: Warriors’ star Jimmy Butler facing Lawsuit in Miami

Standings and Upcoming Games

The win marks a turnaround for Miami after going through a ten-game losing streak this month. Now on a two-game winning streak, the Heat sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Golden State has lost two straight since Stephen Curry suffered a pelvis injury, holding onto sixth place in the Western Conference.

Next, Miami will host the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday (27th). The Warriors, in the midst of a six-game road trip, will face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday (28th).