The Golden State Warriors faced off against the Miami Heat on March 25, 2025, for a highly anticipated matchup that marked Jimmy Butler's return to Miami following his trade to the Warriors.
Butler’s transfer has sparked a dramatic change in the Warriors’ fortunes, with the team achieving a stellar 16-4 record since his arrival. However, as Butler returned to Miami, he did so without the team’s star player, Stephen Curry, who was sidelined with a pelvic contusion.
After a recent loss to the Atlanta Hawks, where Curry could not play, Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr stated, “Steph Curry will not play tonight in Miami for the Jimmy Butler return game,” indicating Curry’s struggle to recover. Despite Butler's positive impact on the team, Curry's absence weighed heavily on their performance against a motivated Heat squad.
Since Butler's debut with the Warriors, Curry has excelled, averaging 27.5 points per game at a shooting percentage of 48.1%. He notably became the first NBA player to hit 4,000 made three-pointers, showcasing the level of play he maintained before his injury. In previous outings, Curry had struggled, shooting only 6-of-21 against the Denver Nuggets, prompting Kerr to rest him in the subsequent game. The Warriors, currently holding a 41-30 record, found themselves in sixth place in the Western Conference, trailing the Memphis Grizzlies by two games.
As Butler arrived in Miami, the game was more than just a contest; it was a narrative of redemption and rivalry. The Heat, having struggled significantly since Butler’s departure, ended a ten-game losing streak by defeating the Charlotte Hornets merely two days prior. Miami’s head coach, Erik Spoelstra, reflected on the emotional significance after Butler acknowledged the complexity of his past with the franchise. “Yeah, I was traded from there, yada, yada, yada. Yeah, it didn’t end the way people wanted… But that’s so far behind me now,” Butler explained, expressing a focus on the present and future with the Warriors.
In the previous matchup, Andrew Wiggins, another player with former ties to the Heat, returned to Miami with soaring expectations, having averaged 36.0 points in two games since his return from injury, including a notable performance scoring 42 points against the Hornets.
Miami fans, excited but cautious, awaited Butler’s return. Despite a tribute video played before the game, which aimed to honor his time spent with the franchise, the mood shifted quickly during the match. The Heat capitalized on their home-court advantage, overcoming Golden State with a definitive 112-86 victory. Though Miami fans showed appreciation for Butler, their team proved unbeatable on this occasion.
Bam Adebayo led the charge for the Heat, scoring 27 points and utilizing Miami's length and sharpshooting—hitting 17 threes during the contest—as they established an early lead. Golden State, struggling without Curry, shot poorly from the perimeter, converting only 23.7% of its attempts from three-point range.
At the game’s conclusion, Butler left the court collecting 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists during his return, but his performance did not reflect his now-famous grit and intensity capable of turning games around. The Warriors are set to regroup as they navigate the remaining stretch of the season without their leader.
Amid pensive thoughts from fans and analysts alike, the question remains: can the Warriors maintain their playoff positioning without Curry while balancing the challenge of relying on Butler and Wiggins to fill crucial roles in the lead-up to the postseason?
