NBA roundup: Splash Brothers catch fire as Warriors extinguish the Heat

San Francisco, California - The Golden State Warriors' offense, led by the Splash Brothers, was at its destructive best in Thursday night's 123-110 victory over the Miami Heat.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry flexes after the Warriors score a basket against the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry flexes after the Warriors score a basket against the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center.  © REUTERS

In a strong four-quarter performance, the Warriors scored between 29 and 32 points in all four periods, led by iconic backcourt duo Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Curry was the game's top-scorer with 33 points on 13-of-22 shooting, hitting seven of his 14 three-point attempts.

Thompson also got up 14 three-point attempts as the Warriors – who play at the fastest pace in the league at 111.7 possessions per game – were determined to let it fly from deep.

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The second Splash Brother hit five of his 14 attempts, while going one-of-five from two-point range for 19 points of his own. They were supported strongly by Andrew Wiggins, who grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds to go with his 18 points (five-of-10 shooting).

For the Heat, Jimmy Butler was terrific on both ends, leading his team with 27 points on an incredibly efficient eight-of-13 from the field (four-of-seven from deep, made all seven free throws), while adding eight assists, six rebounds, and six steals.

The win means the defending champions are 3-2 through their first five games, while Miami fell to 2-4.

Around the league

Left: Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane drives to the basket over Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray. Right: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is defended by LA Clippers guard Terance Mann on a drive to the basket.
Left: Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane drives to the basket over Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray. Right: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is defended by LA Clippers guard Terance Mann on a drive to the basket.  © Collage: REUTERS

Memphis Grizzlies wing Desmond Bane is in a rich vein of form, and he led the way with 31 points in a 125-110 win against the Sacramento Kings.

It is the second consecutive game Bane has top-scored for the Grizzlies in a win, after dropping 38 to tie with teammate Ja Morant and set a new franchise record for points by a duo (76) in their victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Against the Kings, Bane stayed red-hot as he made 11-of-18 field goal attempts, including six-of-eight from long range in a true sharpshooter's performance.

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One of the best shooters in the entire NBA, Bane now boasts a career three-point percentage of 43.3% on 5.6 attempts per game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Clippers for the second time in the past three days with a 118-110 triumph.

Los Angeles were missing stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George when they rolled into Oklahoma City for a two-game road trip, and were still without Leonard as George returned to the lineup.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24 points on 10-of-23 shooting) and Luguentz Dort (21 points on nine-of-15) carried the offensive load for the Thunder, while George was much less effective for the Clippers.

Cover photo: Collage: REUTERS

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