MIAMI, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Norman Powell slashed to the basket and sniped from long distance late, carrying the Miami Heat past the shorthanded Golden State Warriors for a gritty victory Wednesday in Miami.
The Heat (9-6) dominated early and led by as many as 16 points, but allowed the Warriors to stay in striking range, and to eventually steal the lead. But Powell took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 of his 25 points over the final 12 minutes to secure the 110-96 triumph.
"We started playing our brand of basketball," Powell said on the FanDuel Sports Network broadcast.
Heat center Bam Adebayo, who returned from a six-game injury hiatus, scored nine of his 20 points in the fourth quarter. The Warriors (9-8), who played without Jimmy Butler (back), Stephen Curry (ankle) and Draymond Green (illness), among others, shot just 36.2%. They made 13 of 49 (26.5%) 3-point attempts.
The Warriors missed their first 12 shots and shot just 21.4% over the first 12 minutes, resulting in a 29-20 deficit. The Heat spread the ball out offensively, with seven players recording at least three points in the first quarter.
That balanced approach continued early in the second, with the Heat increasing their lead to 13. But the Warriors' active defense forced a flood of turnovers, leading their offense to a 17-4 run and tying the score at 43-43.
The Heat, who led 49-45 at halftime, allowed a 9-0 run midway through the third quarter, resulting in the Warriors' first lead.
The advantage changed hands several times over the next few minutes, but the Warriors ended the frame with a 74-72 lead. Warriors center Quinten Post scored 10 points in the third quarter to fuel the momentum.
The Heat opened the final frame with seven-consecutive points for a 79-74 edge and never trailed again. Powell scored nine-consecutive Heat points to help build a late cushion. Adebayo also recorded nine-consecutive Heat points in the quarter. Powell put the Warriors away with 3-pointers on two of the Heat's final three possessions.
Powell made 10 of 14 shots and was 4 of 7 from 3-point range. He also chipped in six rebounds and three assists. Powell teamed up with Adebayo to score 26 of the Heat's final 29 points.
"I thought he was really good in the second half," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Powell. "It was frustrating in the first half. He only had three points.
"But he responded. ... Down the stretch he was just really good when we put the ball in his hands and in the pick and roll with Bam."
Heat forward Andrew Wiggins scored 17 points. Post totaled 19 points off the Warriors bench. Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski logged 20 points and eight rebounds in the loss. Veteran guard Buddy Hield totaled 18 points off the Warriors bench.
The Heat will battle the Chicago Bulls in an NBA Cup matchup at 8 p.m. EST Friday in Chicago. The Warriors will host the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA Cup at 10 p.m. Friday in San Francisco.