With their grip on a play-in tournament position slipping, the Golden State Warriors traveled to South Beach in desperate need of a victory. In such desperate need, our own Daniel Hardee labelled it a “must-win game” in his preview.

The Warriors received a boost before the game when Miami Heat player Jimmy Butler was ruled out due to sickness. But it wasn’t the only personnel change: maybe detecting a hint of desperation, Steve Kerr reinserted Klay Thompson into the starting lineup, replacing youngster Brandin Podziemski.

Everything turned out great, however it took a little time to get started. A slew of fouls from both teams, as well as a review, kept the game moving slowly and ugly early on. It took some time for either team to find offense, and while I’m not sure what Golden State’s excuse was, I do know Miami’s: Draymond Green, who put on a defensive clinic. The Warriors offense eventually caught up, and by midway through the quarter, they lead 18-10.

But things went sloppy when the benches entered the game, and Miami quickly erased their lead. The Heat, as they frequently do, handled the ball admirably: after the first quarter, the Warriors had five turnovers and forced none, trailing 26-24.

In the second quarter, the teams played tug-of-war, with neither able to gain complete control. The Warriors bench struggled once more, with Chris Paul making several uncharacteristic turnovers. The Warriors, however, stayed in the game thanks to their defense and crucial shots. As the teams entered the locker rooms, it was anyone’s game, with Miami holding a 55-53 advantage.

The game was never the same after the Warriors showed up in the third quarter. Thompson, who had been providing crucial buckets all night, opened the half with a three-pointer, and the Warriors were up by seven points within minutes. 

The Warriors seemed to be playing with more urgency. Green, Thompson, and Steph Curry were clearly determined not to let the team lose this game. Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins provided energy to back up their approach. The Heat had no intention of giving up, but every run they made was countered by one from the Warriors.

The Dubs extended their lead to 13 points late in the quarter with a great sequence that included a Kevon Looney layup and a Thompson three, and they took a 10-point lead into the fourth.

That’s when we all hold our breath for the Warriors this season, but there will be no drama. Miami fought hard, and the game became physical, with hard fouls, players upset with the umpires, and a lot of emotion. But the Warriors never gave up, and when Curry hit a stepback three with roughly seven minutes left, it looked like they had it.

They did. That was near the start of a stretch in which the Warriors held the Heat scoreless for over seven minutes, allowing Golden State to completely dominate the game. They outscored Miami 60-37 in the second half for a 113-92 victory.

That must feel amazing.

The starters delivered a complete performance. Thompson led the squad with 28 points on 11-for-20 shooting, while Kuminga added 18 points (and 7 rebounds), Wiggins 17 points (and 7 rebounds), and Curry 17 points (plus 6 assists). Green got 9 rebounds and 8 assists to complement his outstanding defense.

The Warriors will have little time to celebrate their victory because they return to action on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. PT against the formidable Orlando Magic. A win would give the Dubs a very impressive romp through Florida, as well as a much-needed boost in the standings, with the Houston Rockets closing the gap.