Playoff Jimmy Butler makes early appearance for Warriors against Bucks – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

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SAN FRANCISCO – With bedlam all around him and the Warriors trending toward full self-immolation, Jimmy Butler III checked his mental clock and realized it was time to dig deeper into his bag than in any of his previous 16 games with the team.

From the end of the third quarter through the fourth on Tuesday night at Chase Center, Butler took charge. He showed proper respect for the ball. Scored when desperately needed. Fed others when it was the wise option. Turned the free-throw line into his den. He also found a way to intensify his defense.

Between Butler’s emergency turn-up and Draymond Green’s crafty and relentless defense that stifled the great Giannis Antetokounmpo, Golden State’s available veterans – with Stephen Curry out – met the moment and delivered a 104-93 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Either one is worth the headline,” coach Steve Kerr said of Butler and Green. “Draymond had defense tonight on Giannis. He was incredible to hold him to five field goals. Draymond showed why he’s still one of the great defenders in the world, and why he’s so important to winning games night after night. It wasn’t just the defense, it was the leadership, it was the energy …

“And Jimmy played the whole fourth and just took over the game.”

After their defense powered the Warriors to a 58-44 halftime lead, they got careless and started treating the ball like a live grenade. After committing five turnovers in the first half, they generated 10 in third quarter, giving the Bucks 14 points and putting them back into the game.

With the Warriors trailing 76-75 in the final seconds of the third quarter, Butler went to work. He drew a foul on a 3-point shot with 1.5 seconds left and made all three free throws, providing a 78-76 lead. He scored on a 3-point play in the first minute of the fourth quarter, and followed that with a midrange jumper that gave the Warriors an 83-76 lead.

JIMMY BUTLER THREE-POINT PLAY 😤pic.twitter.com/OTKboEtE5Z

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 19, 2025

“I’ve been playing in this league for 14 some years now, so I can tell,” Butler…

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Publish date : 2025-03-18 23:44:00

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