The Golden State Warriors suffered a crushing 112-86 loss to the Miami Heat in a highly anticipated game marking Jimmy Butler‘s return to his former home court at the Kaseya Center. Missing their star guard Stephen Curry, the Warriors struggled on both ends of the floor, leading Butler to deliver a firm message to his teammates in the aftermath of the defeat.
This marked the second straight game Curry missed due to a pelvic injury, and his absence was most evident on the offensive side. The Warriors shot just 39.8% from the field and a dismal 23.7% from three-point range. To underline their offensive woes, Jonathan Kuminga led the team with just 15 points, while Butler, despite the emotional stakes of the night, recorded only 11 points.
Despite offensive struggles, Butler emphasized that defense was the bigger concern and urged his teammates to step up on that front. “[What we need to improve is] probably the effort coming out of the jump,” Butler said to reporters via KNBR.
“We’ve got to guard a little bit better,” he continued. “Seems like as of late everyone’s been scoring at will at the rim, getting to the free-throw line. We’ve gotten away from what got us a couple wins”.
The Heat capitalized on the Warriors’ defensive lapses, shooting an impressive 55.8% from the field and an extraordinary 68% from three-point range, converting 17 of their 25 attempts from beyond the arc.
Butler’s strong warning to Pat Riley
Speculation surrounded Butler’s return to Miami due to his contentious departure from the franchise, particularly his fractured relationship with Heat president Pat Riley.
Before the game, Butler didn’t shy away from addressing the dynamic, issuing a bold warning to Riley. “I have nothing to say to Pat [Riley], and Pat better have nothing to say to me,” Butler declared via NBA on TNT.
Butler reflects on his special matchup
Unlike Andrew Wiggins, who was seen chatting and sharing warm moments with former teammates, Butler kept his distance, exchanging only brief words with Kevin Love and Terry Rozier. However, this didn’t mean Butler had lost all affection for the Heat.
“It took me back to some good times when I was wearing a Miami Heat jersey,” Butler reflected after the game via NBC Sports Bay Area. “Very appreciative of those times to help me become the player that I am in this league, the individual that I am in this league. The teammate, the leader – all of those things. I don’t think I could be who I am today without my opportunity here”.