Miami Heat vs Golden State Warriors Match Player Stats On Nov 06, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 7, 2017

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Kevin Durant scored 21 points, Draymond Green had 18 points and nine rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors overcame a slow start to defeat the Miami Heat 97-80 on Monday night at Oracle Arena.

The Warriors (8-3) won their fourth straight game and beat Miami at Oracle for the fourth consecutive time.

James Johnson had 21 points off the bench for Miami (4-6), and Goran Dragic scored 19.

The Warriors survived a cold shooting night, making just 36.8 percent from the field. Stephen Curry had 16 points but made hit 5 of 19 from the floor and 2 of 9 from long range.

Miami center Hassan Whiteside, the NBA's reigning rebound king, had five rebounds and three points on 1-of-9 shooting in 16 minutes.

The defensive-minded Heat controlled the tempo throughout most of the first half against the Warriors, who entered the game averaging an NBA-high 120.7 points per game.

With 3:57 left in the second quarter, the score was tied 34-34, but the Warriors finished the half with a 16-3 run to build a 50-37 lead.

Green, who had 13 points and seven rebounds in the first half, ignited the run with a tip-in and a 3-point basket, then Klay Thompson hit a trey to give Golden State a 42-34 lead with 2:02 left.

Durant scored the Warriors' final eight points of the half, giving him a team-high 14 before intermission.

Dragic and Johnson each had 10 points in the first half for Miami.

The Warriors shot 36.4 percent in the first half and Miami shot 34.1.

Golden State pushed its lead to 60-40 early in the third quarter and led 75-57 entering the fourth.

Miami went on an 13-5 run, cutting the Warriors' advantage to 80-70 with 7:07 left. However, Durant drilled a 3-point shot, Green made two free throws, Andre Iguodala had a dunk and Curry hit a 3-pointer, increasing the Warriors' lead to 90-70 with 4:07 left.

Heat starting shooting guard Dion Waiters missed his second straight game. Waiters, who averages 15.9 points per game, returned to Miami for the Sunday birth of his daughter. He will rejoin the team Tuesday in Phoenix and return to the lineup Wednesday against the Suns.

NOTES: Warriors backup PF David West was inactive, a move intended to give the 15-year NBA veteran rest. "It's a routine that we're going to follow all year, whether it's Shaun (Livingston), Andre (Iguodala), David," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "Some of the older guys will get the occasional night off." ... Miami G Tyler Johnson's streak of 22 straight made free throws to start the season ended with 3:20 left in the first quarter when he missed his first attempt. ... Heat G/F Rodney McGruder, who underwent surgery on Oct. 17 to repair a stress fracture in his left tibia, missed his 10th consecutive game.