The Kings would get the night started without their All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins, as he served a one-game suspension for a forearm to the face of Atlanta’s Al Horford last night.
Advertisement
Kings point guard Rajon Rondo had an National Basketball Association season-high 18 assists to go along with 14 points and nine rebounds, coming up just one board short of a triple-double.
“Wins are what it’s about”, said Rondo, who has averaged 14.0 points, 14.2 assists and 9.8 rebounds in his last five outings.
The Kings fell to 0-5 without Cousins this season as Miami scored a season high. Belinelli led the team in scoring with 23 points, and McLemore had his best game of the season, pouring in 17 points on 3 of 4 from 3-point land.
“Obviously, they’re missing a major piece to what they do, but their style of play doesn’t change just in terms of how they attack and come at you and keep on attacking the paint”, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Klay Thompson added 25 points, Harrison Barnes had 21 and Draymond Green chipped in 19 and nine assists as the Warriors moved two wins shy of tying the 1993-94 Houston Rockets and the 1948-49 Washington Capitals for the NBA’s best start at 15-0. The Kings came close to halting the skid last season but blew a 16-point, third-quarter advantage before falling 114-109 in overtime on March 7.
“I’ve been at the top of this game before”, said Stoudemire, who hasn’t played since the second game of the season.
Gay got fouled driving to the basket in the third quarter and would not return to the game, leaving with a strained shoulder.
Rondo was left to direct the Kings.
Amare Stoudemire sparked the Heat with 10 points off the bench in the first quarter. Unlike their 103-91 loss Tuesday night to Minnesota, which outscored Miami 41-22 in the final quarter, the Heat pulled away from the Kings in the fourth. Parker didn’t play in the Bucks’ first four games as the team eased him back from a torn left ACL injury that sidelined him for the last 4 1/2 months of the 2014-15 campaign.
Reggie Theus had that many three times for the Kings, and Jason Williams also had 18 in a game.
Dwyane Wade scored 24 points, and Chris Bosh added 23, as the Miami Heat bounced back from a loss against the Timberwolves.
Advertisement
The Heat now prepare to host the winless Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday and the Kings travel to Orlando to square off against the Magic.
