Adebayo returns as Heat win 110-96 on Warriors' day of rest

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun Sentinel on Nov 19, 2025

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MIAMI — A week ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers returned to Kaseya Center risking that they could win while giving Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley the night off.

They did, the Miami Heat losing by 14.

Wednesday night, the Golden State Warriors took the notion of opposing rest to a higher level, going without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and others on the second night of their back-to-back set.

The expectations of victory might not have been there, but the fight was, arguably more than expected.

Until the Heat said enough was enough.

Trailing at the start of the final period after leading by 16 earlier, the Heat pushed to a 110-96 victory, lifting their home record to 7-1.

With Bam Adebayo back in the mix, coach Erik Spoelstra somewhat reshuffled the mix while mindful of Adebayo’s minutes after a six-game absence with a toe strain.

Adebayo closed with 20 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes. The Heat also got 25 points from Norman Powell, 17 from former Warriors Andrew Wiggins and seven points and 16 rebounds from Kel’el Ware, who shifted back to a reserve role.

5 degrees of Heat from Wednesday night’s game

— Game flow: The Heat moved to an early 16-point lead amid an 0-for-12 start from the field by the Warriors, before settling in for a 29-20 lead at the end of the opening period. The play remained ragged from there, with the Heat going into the intermission up 49-45.

The Warriors then took their first lead of the game at 60-59 in the third period, up 74-72 going into the fourth.

The Heat pushed back to a 90-78 lead with 5:17 to play after Powell and Adebayo were inserted.

But back came the Warriors, closing within 91-85 with 4:16 to play.

Three baskets by Adebayo then quelled the Warriors rally, with Powell and Adebayo combining for 26 of the Heat’s final 29 points.

— Adebayo back: Adebayo’s return moved Ware back to the second unit, with Spoelstra otherwise staying with Powell, Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson as his starters.

It was the fourth time Ware played off the bench in his 15 appearances this season.

Adebayo essentially picked up where he left off when he converted a 3-pointer early in the first quarter, another in the third and then one in the fourth.

Adebayo had converted at least one 3-pointer in a career-high 19 consecutive games, dating to last season, before he was limited by his toe sprain to just the opening 8:12 on Nov. 5 in Denver.

— Jovic out: Even with Adebayo back, Spoelstra was able to stay with his base rotation, with Nikola Jovic sidelined by a hip impingement.

That essentially had Ware cast in the role that had been held by Jovic.

“It started hurting yesterday in the morning before practice,” Jovic said of Tuesday’s practice. “I went through the practice and it was kind of getting worse and worse. I finished the practice and played some extra, just to go through the reps and I thought it was going to be better. But during the day it got a little worse.

“And today, I felt good. I got some shots up to see how it felt and it did not feel good.”

Jovic said the expectation is just a one-game absence, with the Heat next playing Friday in Chicago.

“Probably just one game, hopefully,” he said.

— The Golden State who?: With Curry, Butler and Green out, the Warriors also were without Jonathan Kuminga and De’Anthony Melton due to ongoing knee injuries, with Al Horford given off the second night of the back-to-back set.

That had Golden State opening with a lineup of Brandin Podziemski, Will Richard, Moses Moody, Gui Santos and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

The Warriors later cycled through the likes of Quinten Post and Pat Spencer.

Podziemski led Golden State with 20 points.

— On the road again: Next up is an NBA Cup game on Friday night in Chicago, with a loss eliminating the Heat from the opportunity to advance to the knockout round.

The two-game trip then concludes Sunday in Philadelphia.

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