Warriors' shooters meet a Heat defense that allows the best looks

Miami (3-5), owner of the NBA's worst shooting defense, visits Golden State (5-3) at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, where a Warriors team on a five-game win streak shoots threes at the league's fourth-highest rate.

Miami allows a 58.1 effective field goal percentage, last in the league, and its 116 defensive rating ranks 26th. Opponents get clean looks against the Heat, and few teams take more threes than Golden State.

The Warriors take 47.6% of their shots from three and score 116.6 points per 100 possessions, both fourth in the league.

The glass is the second fight. Golden State rebounds 32.7% of its own misses, the best mark in the league. Miami ranks ninth in defensive rebounding, the one place its defense holds firm.

Tempo pulls the other way. Miami plays at the league's second-fastest pace, 104.6, while Golden State sits 20th and prefers longer possessions.

Stephen Curry averages 30 points in six games and has made 98.1% of his free throws. Draymond Green runs the offense beside him with 6.5 assists a game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo carries Miami with 28.3 points and 12.4 rebounds a game. Davion Mitchell feeds him and the rest of the Heat, averaging 8.1 assists.

Golden State is short of bodies. Jimmy Butler, who plays 30 minutes a game, is out and not expected back until Saturday, January 2.

Moses Moody and Kristaps Porzingis are out until Tuesday, December 1, and Porzingis's absence leaves less size to throw at Antetokounmpo. Gui Santos is out until Saturday, November 7.

The Warriors have won anyway, including 134-114 at Denver and 116-113 over Phoenix at home last time out. Miami won 117-116 at the Clippers after a 138-117 loss to the Lakers.

Tip-off is Thursday, November 5. Sportsbooks' prices give Golden State a 71% chance to win; our projection, built on the players available, has the Warriors at 57.3%.