Preview: Curry practiced, could play against Heat
Wiggins and Butler have linked the Heat and Warriors in an entirely new way
As the Golden State Warriors navigate these final closing games of the regular season, the post-season runway begins to become more clear. The team has a decent - but far from secure grab - on the 6th seed and will be closely watching the health of their roster in these final few weeks. With the final regular season game on April 13th, Golden State has a bit of time to get all the way healthy… but not much.
Which is the early news of Stephen Curry’s potential return tonight is so heartening. After taking an ugly (and noisy) fall, he was ruled out for the previous game and didn’t travel with the team as it started the long road trip. In what can only be an encouraging sign of progress, Curry wasn’t just with the team in Miami yesterday, he participated in practice and is listed as Questionable for tonight’s game against the Heat.
GAME DETAILS
WHO: Golden State Warriors (41-30) at Miami Heat (30-41)
WHEN: Tuesday, March 25th, 2025; 4:30pm PDT
WATCH: CSNBA
Checking in on Wiggins and the Heat
There’s always a personal element to player trades. Similar to draft position differences, there’s always a link established between players - especially big names - that are traded for one another. And for those people that managed to do something special while with a team (like Andrew Wiggins and Jimmy Butler both did), there’s always a reverberation that takes some time to hum to a close.
Wiggins will always have a special connection to this team and fan base and this game will certainly be full of some extra emotions, but in the NBA, it all comes down to wins and losses. Wiggins and the Heat haven’t fared nearly as well as the Warriors, post trade. Already struggling prior to the trade, Miami has plummeted all the way down to the 10th seed in the East, going 9-20 since the transaction. Compared to the Warriors’ 16-3 record with Butler1 it’s easy to say that the Warriors won the trade.
It’s mutual though, which may be the more compelling point - and probably has a better correlation with longevity. Hearing Curry talk about the internal prioritization, Butler may have found a last professional landing spot that will serve him well as he continues to chase that elusive first championship ring.
“I can only speak for this environment because I only know this environment and I helped create this environment,” Curry said. “If (quirky habits) bother you, if that’s something that is distracting, then you’re worried about the wrong stuff. Professionals show up and play. And that’s all we ask of everybody who is in here.
From that same article, there’s another telling quote - again, from Curry himself. Speculation about the end of his career is beginning in earnest, and in keeping with his overall approach to life, Curry isn’t hiding from these thoughts.
Curry has made no secret of his strong desire to finish his career with the same franchise that drafted him, now we are just getting close enough to the finish line to see the glide path. For a long time, it looked like Klay Thompson would be on the same ride, then the same for Wiggins - a player that seemed to find a home here rather than just a place to play basketball for a living.
“The contracts are all lined up with a defined timeline,” Curry emphasized. “You never know what will happen. But that’s not by accident. So I don’t think anyone’s worried about anything other than right now. We have this year and next year to go for it all. Whatever happens after that is the nature of the NBA. We don’t think too far beyond that.”
What’s funny in these discussions is that the players tend to downplay the emotion. This is just one game, after all, right?
For his part, Wiggins has experienced an awakening with the Heat recently. Racking up 72 points over his last two games, he exploded for 42 points in the team’s last game (and did so at an efficiency not seen by a Heat player since LeBron James did it back in 2011). Wiggins made a quick home of Golden State, and it seems as if he’s settling into his new digs equally fast.
Both sides have had to move on quickly, but there’s certainly going to be some emotions lurking in the liminal corners. Both Wiggins and Butler are still close enough to the old era to be some inherent part of the respective team’s rosters. As Curry leads this team with his usual focus and optimism, the Warriors' trajectory remains clear: finish strong, and keep an eye on what’s ahead, one game at a time. Maybe this one comes with an extra long glance back - and that’s fine too.
Tonight’s game is about more than just playoff positioning—it’s a chance for Curry and the Warriors to show everything is back on track, a moment for Wiggins to prove his worth against his old team, and a test for both squads to see where they stand. While the Heat are riding high on recent individual performances, including Wiggins’ red-hot streak, the Warriors’ overall depth and playoff aspirations should give them the edge here.
Prediction
Prior to the recent turnaround, the Heat were on a 10-game losing streak; and the Warriors are not the same team as that Charlotte Hornets squad that Wiggins just put up 42 against. Expect a few flare-up moments, and also expect the Warriors and Jimmy Butler to come on top of this one.
The source of these numbers are The Athletic, so I trust them, but note the difference. The Warriors total games as compared to those listed for the Heat are likely not aligned because of Butler’s availability - but mostly some scheduling weirdness.
Post-game thread up.
Wiggs:
> “I love the people over there,” Wiggins said according to the Miami Herald. “I had a great time, great organization, my teammates were great, the fans were great. Amazing time. I loved it over there. So I’m happy to see them again.”