Why Warriors’ Bam Adebayo assignment is matchup to watch vs. Heat – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

With Jimmy Butler retiring, the Miami Heat slide into the Chase Center on Tuesday trying to avoid their first four-game losing streak since last January.

And they face the Warriors a night after a double-overtime loss to the Kings on Monday in Sacramento.

With Butler out, Miami is looking to guard Tyler Herro to grab it. But he played 49 minutes Monday and is listed as questionable with a left knee contusion. His absence would deprive fans of a spicy duel against Stephen Curry, forcing the Heat to look elsewhere for leadership and production.

Elsewhere, in this case, means center Bam Adebayo. The three-time All-Star, perhaps the most versatile big man in the NBA, can expect to see a rotating cast of defenders, from Trayce Jackson-Davis to Draymond Green to Kevon Looney and perhaps Kyle Anderson.

Adebayo’s 16.1 points per game ranks third on the Heat, behind Herro (23.9) and Butler (17.6). He is shooting 45 percent from the field (27 percent from distance) and is averaging 9.9 rebounds. He will try to bounce back after a 6-of-19 shooting night in Sacramento.

Jackson-Davis wants the same goal. He had played well since returning to Golden State’s starting lineup on Dec. 21, averaging 12.5 points and 9.4 rebounds, but endured his first scoreless game of the season Sunday as the Warriors were obliterated at home by the Kings. After eight consecutive games with a block or a steal — or both — TJD got neither. He managed just two rebounds in 18 minutes.

It’s conceivable, but unlikely, that Warriors coach Steve Kerr will adjust his starting lineup. He could do that with Green, who has considerable experience against Adebayo, in the centre. Or even Looney, who has also seen plenty of the Miami star.

The best bet is for Kerr to stay with TJD, whose vertical spacing on offense and rim protection on defense are practically essential to the Warriors recovering from six sub-mediocre weeks.

On paper, this game leans against the Warriors. They’ve had two days to live with their home crowd struggling with “Turn on the Rays” chants while being beaten silly by the Kings. And the Heat are playing their fourth game in six days, losing the first three by an average of 18 points.

Regardless of whether Herro plays, Miami’s best chance appears to be an epic performance from Adebayo.

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