SAN FRANCISCO – When the Golden State Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler in February, the group acquired a expertise it believed was nonetheless able to carrying a group with title aspirations to unbelievable wins.
With Steph Curry on the sidelines in trendy avenue garments and sitting out for relaxation functions, the Warriors wanted Butler to do exactly that in opposition to Milwaukee at Chase Middle on Tuesday night time.
The star wing delivered in Golden State’s 104-93 victory over the Bucks
The 35-year-old Butler scored 24 factors, dished out 10 assists and grabbed eight rebounds, asserting himself within the second half and serving to stave off a Milwaukee group that had mounted a third-quarter rally from down 14 at halftime.
The Warriors (40-29) shook off Monday’s disappointing loss to Denver and remained in sixth place within the West, whereas Milwaukee (38-30) fell to fifth within the East.
The day after Kerr deemed Curry “exhausted,” the celebrity level guard sat out the second night time of a back-to-back.
That allowed different Warriors reserves – not simply Butler – to have an expanded function within the offense.
The Warriors jumped out to a 12-3 lead, with Quinten Put up floating into area for a 3-pointer and later a dunk on two early possessions, trying loads spry regardless of working by way of a gimpy proper ankle. He scored 14 factors to complete third in scoring.
Brandin Podziemski, taking part in in his first recreation since Mar. 6 and beginning in Curry’s stead at level guard, made two high-arcing triples in a primary quarter that noticed the Warriors finish it with a 32-27 lead. Podziemski completed the night time with 17 factors in 29 minutes.
The protection was the true story of the primary half although, one the Warriors led 58-44 by the point the second quarter buzzer sounded.
Milwaukee’s dynamic duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Oakland Excessive alum Damian Lillard have been a mixed 5-for-17 from the sector within the first half.
The Warriors rotated between Draymond Inexperienced, Butler and Jonathan Kuminga as Antetokounmpo’s major defender to nice impact.
That defensive excellence didn’t carry over into the third quarter.
The Bucks started the quarter on a 16-4 run that noticed team-high scorer Kyle Kuzma (22 factors) drop in two 3s.
Kuminga was referred to as for a flagrant foul on Gary Trent Jr. late within the interval when he threw Gary Trent Jr. to the ground on a field out.
The Warriors have been all of a sudden in a recreation.
With the Bucks up 76-75 with a second to play within the third quarter, Butler drew a foul on a 3-pointer from the wing. He buried all three free throws to present Golden State a slim lead going into the fourth.
From there, Butler and Golden State retook management of the sport with 5 fast Butler factors to open the fourth, however Milwaukee wouldn’t go away.
The Bucks reduce the result in 96-93 with beneath 4 minutes remaining on two Antetokounmpo free throws, however a Podziemski 3-pointer, a Payton operating layup, and one other Podziemski triple padded the lead and secured the win for Golden State.
Golden State finishes its seven-game homestand on Thursday in opposition to Toronto. Curry is predicted to play.
Initially Printed: March 18, 2025 at 9:49 PM PDT
