Eddie Jones had 19 of his 28 points in the second half as the Heat used a fourth-quarter burst to upend the Warriors, 85-79, and extend Golden State's season-high losing streak to seven games.
Jones made 5-of-6 3-point attempts in the second half and helped key a 15-2 run midway through the final quarter that erased a 68-64 deficit. The veteran shooting guard was coming off a game in which he scored just three points in 23 minutes.
"Eddie took care of it," Miami coach Pat Riley said. "We made some great defensive stops (but) it was a very bad game. ... We have had this before, we just need to keep playing."
 Despite their struggles this season, Pat Riley and the Heat continue to find success against the Warriors. Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images |
Alonzo Mourning had 15 points and Jimmy Jackson added 12 for Miami, which snapped its three-game losing streak and won for just the fifth time in 18 road games.
"This was an ugly win but we got it done," Mourning said. "Eddie made some shots tonight, shots he hasn't been making. Some of those shots were big down the stretch."
But despite owning the second-worst record in the league, the Heat posted their fifth straight win against the Warriors. Two of Miami's nine wins this season have come against Golden State and the Warriors have not defeated the Heat since December 14, 1999.
"They are a veteran team, their record doesn't speak for the team itself," Warriors forward Danny Fortson said. "What else can I say? I'm running out of excuses. This is the seventh straight loss and I don't have too much more to say."
Larry Hughes had 19 points and Antawn Jamison had 15 and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which is 4-9 since Brian Winters replaced Dave Cowens as coach.
Adding to Golden State's woes were a season-high 24 turnovers.
"Turnovers, we gave away too many points on turnovers," Winters said. "We left Eddie Jones open a couple of times and he made some threes. Basically, we outrebounded them, made the same amount of baskets and same amount of free throws. It just came down to threes and turnovers."
The Warriors did regain the services of center Erick Dampier, who had missed the last nine games with a hyperextended left knee. Dampier had two points but seven rebounds in 16 minutes.
The teams were locked in a defensive battle and Golden State took a 56-54 lead into the final 12 minutes. A breakaway layup by Sura made it 65-60 and a technical free throw by Chris Mills 3:37 into the quarter left the Warriors with a six-point bulge.
Golden State still maintained a 68-64 lead with 5:53 left when Rod Strickland buried a 19-footer that ignited the decisive run. Jones followed with consecutive 3-pointers to put Miami ahead 72-68 and a short jumper by Mourning made it a six-point bulge with 3:21 to go.
Mills hit a basket to stem the tide for Golden State but Jones delivered a backbreaking 3-pointer and LaPhonso Ellis a short basket to push the lead to 79-70 with two minutes left.
"Eddie Jones made 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and really gave them a lift on the offensive end," Mills said.
"It's all about making shots in the fourth quarter," Jones added. "We have had big leads in the fourth and have relinquished them by not making shots."
Jones had eight points in the opening quarter but the Warriors led 18-17 after 12 minutes. Golden State actually pushed its lead to 37-35 by halftime but neither team particulary well.
Miami made 34 percent (13-for-38) of its shots in the first half while Golden State was just slightly better at 37 percent (14-for-38).