Stephen Curry erupted for 34 points and tied his season high with eight 3-pointers as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Chicago Bulls 132-111 on Saturday night.
Curry delivered 24 points in the third quarter, leading the Warriors (26-26) from a 24-point deficit to a three-point advantage.
Jimmy Butler made an immediate impact in his Golden State debut, scoring 25 points while adding four assists and making 11 of 13 free throws.
The Warriors capitalized on a dominant second half, outscoring the Bulls 77-42 after halftime and making 11 of 23 from beyond the arc.
Chicago (22-31) controlled the game early and built an 83-59 lead in the third quarter. Curry then led a stunning turnaround, hitting five 3-pointers and cutting into the deficit with a series of contested shots.
Golden State entered the fourth quarter up 99-94 after Butler’s tip-in and Curry’s 16-footer sparked a 16-1 run. Butler followed up by scoring the first seven points of the final period, including a three-point play off an alley-oop dunk, extending the Warriors’ lead to double digits.
Butler, who spent his first six seasons with the Bulls, played his first game for Golden State after a trade from Miami.
The six-time All-Star showed aggressiveness by getting to the free-throw line and contributed defensively as the Warriors locked down Chicago in the second half.
Quinten Post added 18 points while Brandin Podziemski chipped in 16 points and seven assists off the bench.
Coby White led the Bulls with 27 points and six 3-pointers, while rookie Matas Buzelis added 16 points in the loss. Jalen Smith scored 15 and matched a career-high with four 3-pointers, but Chicago struggled with turnovers, committing 17 giveaways that led to 29 Warriors points.
Despite a strong first half in which they shot 48.8% from the field, the Bulls’ offense stagnated late, managing only 17 fourth-quarter points.
The Warriors made 19 of 48 3-pointers, with Curry accounting for eight, as they continue their push toward playoff contention.
Golden State’s defense tightened in the second half, holding Chicago to 36.7% shooting and forcing multiple key turnovers.
