Steve Kerr Praises Steph Curry’s Bounce-Back in Warriors’ Sixth Straight Win

SAN FRANCISCO — Steph Curry had made two shots by halftime Thursday night. By the time the Golden State Warriors were ready to close out the Miami Heat, Steve Kerr could afford to leave him on the bench.

Curry scored 22 of his game-high 29 points after halftime, and the Warriors beat the Heat 120-100 at Chase Center for their sixth straight win.

Golden State improved to 6-3 after losing its first three games. Miami fell to 3-6.

“One of the things that makes him so good, so special, is his ability to bounce back within a game,” Kerr said of Curry.

Curry was 2-for-10 from the field with seven points at halftime, when the teams were tied at 53. Miami took a 61-58 lead early in the third quarter on a jumper by former Warrior Klay Thompson. Curry later hit a pull-up 3-pointer to put Golden State ahead 64-61, prompting the Heat to call timeout.

The Warriors scored 38 points in the third and took a 91-76 lead into the fourth. Curry shot 7-for-9 after halftime, including 5-for-7 from 3-point range. He finished with six 3-pointers and four assists.

Curry added one more 3-pointer with 7:38 left in the fourth. Draymond Green grabbed an offensive rebound and found him for the shot that made it 103-85.

Curry finished one point shy of his fourth consecutive 30-point game, and the Warriors held their cushion after he went to the bench. Golden State outscored Miami 29-24 in the final quarter.

“We built some resiliency,” Curry said.

Curry said the Warriors have learned to stay composed when games start poorly, something he sees as a measure of a good team. Three nights earlier, Golden State erased a 17-point deficit to beat the Phoenix Suns 116-113. Against Miami, the Warriors stayed even through a half in which their leading scorer struggled, then turned the game in the third quarter.

The Warriors had production throughout the rotation. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg had 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Green handed out a season-high 11 assists, and Georges Niang scored 13 points off the bench. Golden State assisted on 36 of its 42 field goals and made 16 of 41 attempts from beyond the arc.

Davion Mitchell led Miami with 22 points and eight assists, while Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 points and 14 rebounds. Bam Adebayo added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Thompson scored 11 in his return to Chase Center. Miami made 13 of 44 attempts from 3-point range.

Golden State will try for its seventh straight win Saturday when it hosts the Orlando Magic.