The Golden State Warriors are entering the All-Star break with momentum, and Jimmy Butler is a major reason why. Since acquiring Butler before the trade deadline, the Warriors have won three of their last four games, including a 105-98 victory over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night.
Draymond Green spoke highly of Butler’s immediate impact on the team. “He’s a franchise changer. He’s done that everywhere he’s gone and he is helping revitalize what we got here. The belief amongst this team, now that he’s arrived, as opposed to what it was before he got here, it’s night and day,” Green said.
Golden State improved to 28-27 with the win, strengthening its position in the Western Conference playoff race. Houston, which was once near the top of the standings, has now lost seven of its last ten games, falling to 34-21.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 27 points, hitting five three-pointers and going 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. Butler contributed 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while Brandin Podziemski added 18 points, five boards, and four assists. Green played a key role with 13 points and eight assists.
Golden State set the tone early, taking a 28-19 lead after the first quarter behind Curry’s perimeter shooting and Butler’s aggressive play. The Warriors extended their advantage in the second period, outscoring Houston 34-29 to take a 62-48 lead into halftime.
The Rockets responded in the second half, trimming the deficit with a 22-20 third quarter. Houston’s bench made a push in the fourth, cutting the lead to two points before the Warriors closed the game on an 11-2 run.
Aaron Holiday led Houston with 25 points, shooting 10-of-20 from the field. Alperen Şengün recorded a double-double with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists. Jalen Green struggled, finishing with just nine points in 22 minutes before being benched in the fourth quarter.
Frustrated with his starters, Rockets coach Ime Udoka made a bold decision to sit Green, Sengun, and Dillon Brooks down the stretch. The second unit responded, with Nate Williams scoring 11 points, Jock Landale adding 13 points and eight rebounds, and Jeff Green chipping in 10 points.
Golden State capitalized on Houston’s mistakes, making 24-of-27 free throws compared to the Rockets’ 10-of-18. Butler and Curry combined to go 14-of-15 from the line, while Kevon Looney grabbed nine rebounds off the bench.
Since joining the Warriors, Butler has increased his production, averaging 22 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. His numbers have improved significantly from his time in Miami, where he averaged 17 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.
With the victory, Golden State remains in 10th place in the Western Conference, tied with Sacramento for the ninth seed. The Warriors are now just 1.5 games behind the eighth-seeded Dallas Mavericks as they fight for playoff positioning.
Houston, which was once the second seed, has now dropped to fourth in the West. The Rockets trail the Denver Nuggets by two games, the Memphis Grizzlies by 2.5 games, and are 10.5 games behind the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder.
With Butler bringing a new level of confidence to Golden State, the Warriors appear poised for a strong second half of the season.
