The Miami Heat finally snapped their brutal 10-game losing streak, but there’s no time to celebrate—not with an old friend-turned-rival stepping back into Kaseya Center. Jimmy Butler III makes his return to Miami on Tuesday, only this time, he’s rocking Warriors colors. Golden State rolls into town for a showdown that features two teams heading in completely different directions.

While the Heat have struggled to stay afloat, the Warriors have been thriving with Butler in the mix. Since Miami shipped him off in that five-team blockbuster on Feb. 5—officially ending their messy breakup—Golden State has gone 16-4, firmly planting themselves in the Western Conference playoff race.

Butler’s first game back in Miami as a Warrior had all the drama you’d expect—but not in the way some anticipated. The Heat’s former franchise star barely acknowledged Bam Adebayo before tip-off, not even sparing a glance in his direction. No words, no handshake—just silence.

But while his relationship with Bam seemed icy, Butler made sure to show love elsewhere. The longest embrace of the night came when he reconnected with Kevin Love, his former teammate who had been known to post cryptic memes on Instagram whenever Butler’s trade rumors surfaced. This time, no hidden messages—just a genuine moment between two veterans who shared a locker room and plenty of battles. Butler also took time to acknowledge the Heat staff, making sure to dap up familiar faces before getting down to business.

As for the game itself, things got physical fast. Draymond Green found himself on the wrong end of a hard elbow from Bam Adebayo, dropping to the floor in pain. Given Draymond’s history with Miami’s intensity, it was only fitting that his night included a tough shot to the face.

But for all the on-court tension, the real heat was still simmering off the court. When TNT’s Taylor Rooks asked Butler what he’d do if he ran into Pat Riley, his response left no room for interpretation. “I have nothing to say to Pat. And Pat better have nothing to say to me,” he told Rooks, making it crystal clear that the wounds from their breakup haven’t healed.

But while the past is still a sore spot, Butler isn’t dwelling on it—his focus is on what’s ahead. And in Golden State, things couldn’t be going much better.

Jimmy Butler already looking ahead

When Jimmy Butler arrived in the Bay Area last month, the Warriors were stuck in limbo—too good to rebuild but not quite contenders. Fast forward a few weeks, and they’ve flipped the script. Winning 16 of their last 20 games, they’ve climbed to sixth in the West and suddenly look like a team no one wants to face in the playoffs.

The numbers back up Butler’s impact, but it’s not just about stats. There’s a different energy in San Francisco. The team isn’t just winning—they’re playing with a swagger they hadn’t shown all season. And while Butler’s presence on the court has been key, it’s his perspective that’s making waves.

After a recent win, he opened up about playing alongside Stephen Curry. “He is the man. He is everything everybody says of him,” Butler said. “More than anything, he’s just nice. He’s just genuinely a good human being. To everybody. It’s very, very, very refreshing. Because he doesn’t have to be that way.”

Curry, for his part, has been on fire since Butler’s arrival. While his season numbers sit at 24.2 points on 44.7% shooting, he’s been even better post-trade, bumping that up to 27.5 points while hitting 48.1% from the field and 40.7% from deep. Butler isn’t just along for the ride either—his 17.6 points, 6.5 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game show he’s doing a little bit of everything.

Steve Kerr summed it up best, calling the Butler-Curry duo “a balance of edge and calm.” That’s a rare mix for a team carrying both championship expectations and aging stars, but watching them play, you can tell—it’s working. With Butler locked in through 2026-27 and Curry still playing at an elite level, Golden State’s title window isn’t closing. If anything, it’s cracking wide open again.