Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra credited his team’s energy and bench contributions as key factors in their 110-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday at Kaseya Center.
“Once Dru threw the ball to me, the energy changed… he was a terror after that, making things happen,” Spoelstra said, highlighting Dru Smith’s influence on both ends of the court.
Spoelstra emphasized Norman Powell’s role in the fourth quarter: “It was frustrating in the first half… but he responded with his voice, making defensive efforts and creating separation in pick-and-rolls with Bam.” Powell led Miami with 25 points, while Bam Adebayo returned from a six-game absence to score 20 points and grab seven rebounds.
Kel’el Ware also drew praise for his versatility off the bench, collecting 16 rebounds in 19 minutes. “It’s not easy to start, play well, and then come off the bench and still impact the game… it was more about his mindset,” Spoelstra said.
Miami dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Warriors 38-22 and converting 34 points off 23 turnovers. The Warriors were without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and Al Horford, which left their lineup depleted. Spoelstra noted the challenge of facing unfamiliar lineups: “It’s human nature… you look for a knockout punch early, but the right approach is to wear on them.”
The Heat jumped to an early 20-4 lead before Golden State briefly took a 60-59 lead midway through the third quarter. A 21-4 run by Miami late in the third and early fourth ultimately secured the win. Spoelstra praised the team’s improved execution in the second half: “We had poor shot selection in the first half… in the second half, it looked more like us, even if we weren’t making shots.”
Spoelstra also discussed Miami’s comfort against zone defenses: “We feel a lot more comfortable with it… we want to get to a point where whatever you do, it’s a wrong decision.” He highlighted Powell’s late-game catch-and-go plays as key to the Heat’s offensive flow: “It took intention from the other four guys… but he’s our leading scorer and you have to get him in those situations.”
Miami (9-6) will visit Chicago on Friday, while Golden State (9-8) returns home to face Portland, both teams aiming to adjust after their latest matchups.
