The Golden State Warriors are set to kick off a seven-game homestand against the Miami Heat on Thursday at Chase Center, riding an impressive eight-game home winning streak. The Heat, winners of their last three games, will prove to be a formidable opponent, having defeated the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day and being the reigning Eastern Conference Champions.
In their recent outing on Christmas Day, the Warriors had their five-game winning streak snapped by the defending champion Denver Nuggets with a score of 120-114. Despite the loss, Andrew Wiggins stood out with a team-high 22 points on 7-for-11 shooting. The Nuggets, led by Jamal Murray (28 points) and Nikola Jokic (26 points), managed to secure the victory, with Jokic setting an NBA Christmas Day record by going a perfect 18-for-18 from the free-throw line.
| GSW | MIA |
| 15-15 | 18-12 |
| 11th in West | 4th in East |
| PTS: 117.1 (9th) | PTS: 113.4 (19th) |
| REB: 47.4 (1st) | REB: 41.4 (t-26th) |
| AST: 28.0 (6th) | AST: 26.2 (12th) |
Uniforms for the game:
Previous game starters: GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Brandin Podziemksi, Jonathan Kuminga, and Kevon Looney MIA: Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Caleb Martin, and Bam Adebayo
Injury & roster notes: GSW: Draymond Green (league suspension) and Gary Payton II (right calf strain) are out. MIA: Jimmy Butler (left calf strain), Kyle Lowry (soreness), Caleb Martin (right ankle sprain), and Dru Smith (right ACL third-degree sprain) are out. Duncan Robinson (left ankle sprain) is questionable. Josh Richardson (lower back discomfort) is doubtful.
Making the most of the upcoming homestand: The Warriors, after a 1-6 start at home, have turned things around with eight consecutive wins at Chase Center. Stephen Curry has been instrumental during this stretch, averaging 31.4 points per game with impressive shooting percentages. Curry emphasizes the importance of this homestand in establishing the team’s identity and making headway in the standings.
Miami scouting report: The Heat welcomed back key players Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro in recent games. Adebayo leads the team in rebounds and blocks, while Herro is the leading scorer. Since their return on December 18, Herro has averaged 26.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, while Adebayo has posted 21.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 block. Despite missing Jimmy Butler due to injury, the Heat’s strength lies in their perimeter shooting, boasting a league-best 39.5 percent success rate from beyond the arc this season.
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