Kevin Durant scores 39 points as Warriors complete comeback win over Heat

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The Golden State Warriors trailed by as many as 19 points in the first quarter, roaring back to seal a 120-118 comeback win over the Miami Heat.

Kevin Durant led the way with 39 points on 16-for-24 shooting, six rebounds, and four assists, while Klay Thompson added 29 points on 6-for-13 shooting from three. His fellow Splash Brother Steph Curry got in on the act, scoring 25 points on 5-for-10 shooting from three.

While it was the Warriors Big 3 who filled up the stat sheet, it was DeMarcus Cousins who held his nerve down the stretch, burying two clutch free throws with 5.4 seconds remaining to seal the win, their 11th double-digit comeback of the season.

Miami raced out of the gates to a 26-7 lead in the first quarter, stunning the Warriors on their home floor, with an inspired effort on both sides of the floor.

Durant, Thompson and Curry, who combined for 95 points on the night, took turns running the Warriors offence as they slowly clawed their way back into the contest, trailing 59-54 at the half.

In the blink of an eye, the Warriors went on a 12-0 run early in the third to take a 66-61 lead, with a Curry three kick-starting the avalanche of buckets.


Josh Richardson kept the Heat in it with his own long-range shooting, knocking down 8-for-11 three-pointers on his way to a career-high 37 points, while Dion Waiters added 24 and Justise Winslow 22.

In Dwyane Wade's final game at ORACLE Arena, he recorded 10 points and nine assists, coming up with this fine piece of defence on Durant, blocking his shot and laying it in at the other end to give his team the lead, with just under a minute remaining. Richardson then forced a turnover from Draymond Green, going down the other end to score and stretch the lead to three.


But before they could get too comfortable, Durant came up with a dagger of his own to tie it up again.


The win marked the Warriors (40-15) fourth consecutive victory, while the Heat (25-29) have now lost two in a row.

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Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor for The Sporting News.