The Golden State Warriors delivered a statement win on January 13, 2026, dominating the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers 119-97 at Chase Center. For a team that’s struggled at times to close out games without their superstar Stephen Curry on the floor, this blowout victory showcased the Warriors’ newfound depth and resilience—especially from their bench unit. In a season marked by ups and downs, Tuesday night’s game felt like a turning point.
De’Anthony Melton led the charge with a season-high 23 points off the bench, his most in a single game since 2023. He’s now recorded double-digit scoring in four consecutive games and five of his last six outings. Melton’s hot hand, including four made three-pointers, was a welcome sight for a Warriors team that had just come off one of their worst shooting performances of the season against the Atlanta Hawks. As coach Steve Kerr put it, “Yeah you know his shot has really come around. We didn’t expect him to be in rhythm those first few weeks when he came back. He had hardly played for two years. So you can see the confidence is rising.”
Jimmy Butler was another key contributor, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Butler’s steady play has been a stabilizing force for Golden State, particularly when Curry is resting. Speaking candidly about the team’s performance at the halfway mark of the season, Butler remarked, “Mediocre. We need to win more games, lose less games. That’s just where we are. I think it’s the worst place to be is to be mediocre because like yes it can go either way but nobody wants to be just average, nobody wants to be average.”
Stephen Curry, though held to just seven points—his second game this season with fewer than ten—made his presence felt in other ways. He dished out 11 assists, marking his 148th career game with double-digit assists, and helped orchestrate the Warriors’ offensive flow. Curry’s willingness to share the ball allowed others like Brandin Podziemski (15 points) and Moses Moody (who buried four three-pointers) to step up. Moody’s first triple of the night gave him 364 for his career, pushing him past current general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. for 12th place on the Warriors’ all-time three-point leaderboard.
The Blazers, meanwhile, faced an uphill battle from the opening tip. Star wing Deni Avdija, who averages 26.1 points per game, was sidelined with lower back soreness, and Jerami Grant (20 ppg) missed the contest due to Achilles tendonitis. Rookie center Hansen Yang exited in the fourth quarter with a leg injury, and franchise icon Damian Lillard remains out for the season rehabbing a torn Achilles. Without their top offensive weapons, Portland struggled to keep pace. Shaedon Sharpe led the way with 19 points, while Caleb Love chipped in 17 points and seven assists.
Golden State’s offense was firing on all cylinders early, making 14 of their first 22 shots and 8 of 15 from beyond the arc in the opening quarter. By halftime, the Warriors had built a 67-61 lead, converting 23 of 46 attempts and 13 of 31 from three-point range. But the third quarter nearly brought déjà vu for the home crowd: the Blazers opened with a 19-5 run, slicing the lead down to 12 points. Yet this time, the Warriors flipped the script. A quick burst—sparked by a Gary Payton II layup, a Curry pull-up triple, and a Butler dunk (off, you guessed it, a Curry assist)—reestablished control. By the end of the third, Golden State led by 24, and the contest was all but decided.
Much of the Warriors’ recent success can be traced to their revitalized bench. The return of Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton from injury has been a game-changer. Alongside Butler, Brandin Podziemski, and Will Richard, the new-look second unit boasts a staggering +32.6 net rating, with a 97.9 defensive rating and 130.4 offensive rating. Statistically, this bench group is outperforming the starting five, which features Curry, Butler, Moses Moody, Draymond Green, and Quinten Post, and has a -2.3 rating. The bench’s ability to not only hold leads but extend them while Curry rests is a luxury Golden State hasn’t enjoyed in years.
Coach Steve Kerr’s decision to stagger Curry and Butler’s minutes, ensuring at least one of the two is on the floor at all times, is paying dividends. In Butler’s minutes without Curry or Green, the Warriors are +11.9—a testament to his leadership and the bench’s chemistry. The supporting cast has also played a critical role; the Warriors are undefeated this season (5-0) when Melton hits at least two threes, and Gui Santos has contributed valuable minutes on both ends.
The Warriors’ defensive intensity was on full display against the Blazers, who were limited to just 15 of 42 shooting in the first half and struggled to generate quality looks without their primary creators. Golden State’s deep drop coverage dared Portland’s shooters, and the results spoke for themselves. The Warriors, on the other hand, capitalized on open looks and pushed the tempo at every opportunity.
Looking ahead, the Warriors’ next five games are all at home—a prime opportunity to make a push out of the Play-In bracket. Currently three games behind the Houston Rockets for the No. 7 seed, Golden State is finally healthy, with only Seth Curry (sciatica) still sidelined. The team’s resurgence comes at a crucial juncture, as they seek to build momentum for a playoff run and avoid last season’s pitfalls, when overreliance on Curry wore him down by the postseason.
The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, will look to regroup as they host the Hawks on Thursday. The Warriors will aim to keep their hot streak alive against the New York Knicks, also on Thursday night at Chase Center. With a balanced attack, renewed bench strength, and a clean bill of health, the Warriors seem poised to turn the corner as the season’s second half begins. For Dub Nation, hope springs eternal—and for the rest of the league, the message is clear: don’t count these Warriors out just yet.
