OAKLAND -- Coming home after a three-game road sweep, it’s Go Time for the Warriors as they begin a four-game homestand Monday night against the Miami Heat at Oracle Arena.
Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 6:30, with tipoff scheduled for 7:35.
After a ragged start to the season, the Warriors (7-3) have cranked up their defensive intensity and limited their turnovers while maintaining terrific marksmanship. They’re shooting 52.6 percent from the field, tops in the NBA.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Miami (4-5), playing the third game of a six-game road trip, is coming off a 104-101 victory over the Clippers on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles.
BETTING LINE
Warriors by 15.5
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Golden State Warriors
Zaza Pachulia & Co. vs. Hassan Whiteside: Whiteside is averaging 18.3 points and 14.0 rebounds per game. He had 21 points and 17 rebounds, with three steals and two blocks in LA on Sunday. The 7-footer led the league in rebounding last season, led it in blocks the season before. Expect the Warriors to offer different looks, including double-teams. They’ll rely mostly on Pachulia’s bulk and JaVale McGee’s length, while also giving Draymond Green and David West a few turns.
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: No injuries listed. C David West (Rest) is out. C Damian Jones is on assignment with the G-League Santa Cruz Warriors.
Heat: G Dion Waiters (Paternity leave) and G/F Rodney McGruder (L tibia surgery) are listed as out.
SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors have won eight of the last 11 meetings and four of the last six in Oakland. The teams split the two-game series last season.
OFFICIALS
Brian Forte (lead), Mark Ayotte and Dedric Taylor.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
RUNNING THE BREAK: The Warriors are at their best when the defense triggers their devastating transition game. They lead the league in fast-break points. The catch here is that Miami plays some of the best transition in the NBA. Only the Bucks have allowed fewer fast-break points. The Heat’s ability to clog offense is why the Warriors have posted only one double-digit win over the last four meetings.
HOME RUN: The Warriors are only 2-2 at home this season, a steep drop from recent seasons. They lost a total of nine games at Oracle over the past three seasons and didn’t take their third loss at Oracle until January. Their home dominance is a matter of pride, so they’ll be out to avoid the slow starts and lulls that have plagued them at home this season.
ENTER THE DRAGON: It’s always a delight when two tremendous point guards go after each other, and that will be the case with Miami’s dynamic Goran Dragic and two-time MVP Stephen Curry of the Warriors. Both are shooting just under 50 percent from the field and just over 40 percent beyond the arc. If Dragic can offset Curry, the Heat can make things interesting.