The Warriors are 2-0 with Jimmy Butler.
MILWAUKEE — It’s only been two games with Jimmy Butler, but the Warriors already look like a different team: one that can mount a comeback and pull away.
Also one that might have trouble slowing down dynamic scoring guards.
The Warriors had no answer for Damian Lillard, who scored 38 on 12-for-20 shooting, but nevertheless closed out the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Bucks by taking control of the fourth quarter in a 125-111 win.
Steph Curry (38 points, six rebounds, four assists) countered Lillard with his fourth straight 30-point game, his first such streak since 2021. Butler registered 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Quinten Post hit big shots late while both Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody made impressive two-way contributions.
The Warriors started small, with Draymond Green at center, but still dominated the rebounding battle, 47 to 36. By generating 17 more shots via boards and forcing 20 turnovers, the Warriors’ poor shooting night didn’t matter.
Butler’s presence allows Curry to return closer to his traditional substitution pattern, playing the first 10 minutes of the first and third quarters and the last six-plus of the half and game. Butler’s ability to manufacture offense with Curry off the court gives the Warriors more confidence in sitting him for longer stretches.
Curry used the opportunity to strike a rhythm early, sinking a trio of first-quarter 3s. When he’s aggressive early, defenses seem to overreact even more to him, opening up chances for his teammates.
Curry dropped 11 points in the first quarter, which Oakland native Damian Lillard nearly matched. Lillard went for 43 points and eight assists the night before, cooking as his team needs him to shoulder the load without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf).
Lillard hit shots in 1-on-1 situations against Curry, Butler and anyone else who tried to check him. It was the first time the Warriors played against a lethal on-ball creator without Andrew Wiggins, who was their best point-of-attack defender before heading to Miami in the Butler trade.
Golden State’s offense made up for it, though, with a steady diet of paint looks and foul shots. Butler broke Milwaukee’s zone by playing at the free throw line, pivoting and making smart decisions. To beat the halftime buzzer, he caught the ball in the short roll and found Draymond Green underneath for a layup.
Milwaukee took its first lead since the opening frame on an AJ Green corner 3 as the Warriors’ offense clogged up to start the third.
Curry, sensing the need for his scoring, snaked his way into an and-1 to reach 27 points. Butler carried the team as he sat, finding Quinten Post for a jam, facing up Pat Connaughton for a bucket, bruising his way to the line and sinking a baby baseline jumper.
Eighteen seconds into the fourth, Green picked up his fourth foul. His replacement, Post, drilled back-to-back triples to push the Warriors ahead by eight. For the second straight game, the Warriors surged as Curry sat to begin the fourth quarter.
In that span, Butler became the first Warrior since Kevin Durant in 2018 to take at least 13 foul shots in consecutive games.
Count that as another way the Warriors are suddenly different.
Post later added a third 3 and Curry gave Brandin Podziemski a big hug after the young guard took a charge and drew a foul on a moving screen while pressuring Lillard in the back court.
Butler gives the Warriors belief that they can win at a higher level now. The two games with him — albeit against weak or depleted opponents — have validated that faith.
MILWAUKEE — It’s only been two games with Jimmy Butler, but the Warriors already look like a different team: one that can mount a comeback and pull away.
Also one that might have trouble slowing down dynamic scoring guards.
The Warriors had no answer for Damian Lillard, who scored 38 on 12-for-20 shooting, but nevertheless closed out the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Bucks by taking control of the fourth quarter in a 125-111 win. It was the second straight success of the Butler-Steph Curry pairing.
“Every possession just doesn’t seem as hard,” Curry said postgame. “You still see attention, you still see defenses, but you have to worry about something else. We’re just putting people in the right spots. Obviously, I want to be aggressive. I think earlier in the year, that aggression didn’t necessarily lead to anything as consistently as it has the last two games.”
Curry (38 points, six rebounds, four assists) countered Lillard with his fourth straight 30-point game, his first such streak since 2021. Butler registered 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Quinten Post hit big shots late while both Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody — slotted into more appropriate roles — made impressive two-way contributions.
The Warriors started small, with Draymond Green at center, but still dominated the rebounding battle, 47 to 36. By generating 17 more shots via boards and forcing 20 turnovers, the Warriors’ poor shooting night didn’t matter.
Butler’s presence allows Curry to return closer to his traditional substitution pattern, playing the first 10 minutes of the first and third quarters and the last six-plus of the half and game. Butler’s ability to manufacture offense with Curry off the court gives the Warriors more confidence in sitting him for longer stretches.
Curry used the opportunity to strike a rhythm early, sinking a trio of first-quarter 3s. When he’s aggressive early, defenses seem to overreact even more to him, opening up chances for his teammates.
Curry dropped 11 points in the first quarter, which Oakland native Damian Lillard nearly matched. Lillard went for 43 points and eight assists the night before, cooking as his team needs him to shoulder the load without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf).
Lillard hit shots in 1-on-1 situations against Curry, Butler and anyone else who tried to check him. It was the first time the Warriors played against a lethal on-ball creator without Andrew Wiggins, who was their best point-of-attack defender before heading to Miami in the Butler trade.
Golden State’s offense made up for it, though, with a steady diet of paint looks and foul shots. Butler broke Milwaukee’s zone by playing at the free throw line, pivoting and making smart decisions. To beat the halftime buzzer, he caught the ball in the short roll and found Draymond Green underneath for a layup.
Milwaukee took its first lead since the opening frame on an AJ Green corner 3 as the Warriors’ offense clogged up to start the third.
Curry, sensing the need for his scoring, snaked his way into an and-1 to reach 27 points. Butler carried the team as he sat, finding Quinten Post for a jam, facing up Pat Connaughton for a bucket, bruising his way to the line and sinking a baby baseline jumper.
Eighteen seconds into the fourth, Green picked up his fourth foul. His replacement, Post, drilled back-to-back triples to push the Warriors ahead by eight. For the second straight game, the Warriors surged as Curry sat to begin the fourth quarter.
In that span, Butler became the first Warrior since Kevin Durant in 2018 to take at least 13 foul shots in consecutive games.
Count that as another way the Warriors are suddenly different.
Butler has scored 45 points and gotten to the line for 27 foul shots in two games as a Warrior — even while he’s admittedly out of game shape and doesn’t know the Warriors’ plays yet.
“I can’t wait until I’m back in basketball shape the way that I’m used to being,” Butler said. “Don’t miss free throws as much, I don’t have any lift on my jump shot. Right now, I’m just gassed.”
Post later added a third 3 and Curry gave Brandin Podziemski a big hug after the young guard took a charge and drew a foul on a moving screen while pressuring Lillard in the back court.
Butler gives the Warriors belief that they can win at a higher level now. The two games with him — albeit against weak or depleted opponents — have validated that faith.
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