CHICAGO (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 34 points and tied a season high with eight 3-pointers, Jimmy Butler added 25 points in his Golden State debut, and the Warriors rallied to beat the Chicago Bulls 132-111 on Saturday night. Curry scored 24 of his points and made five 3s in the third quarter as the Warriors went from trailing by 24 to leading by three.
Butler, who played his first six seasons in Chicago, made a big impact in his first game since a trade-deadline deal from Miami after parting ways with the Heat. The six-time All-Star made 11 of 13 free throws and had four assists, showcasing his skill set on the court.
Quinten Post scored 18 points, and Brandin Podziemski added 16 points and seven assists, rounding out the Warriors' effort. On the other side, Coby White led Chicago with 27 points, showcasing his scoring ability, making six 3s. Jalen Smith contributed 15 points and matched his career high with four triples. Rookie Matas Buzelis scored 16, but it wasn’t enough for the Bulls, who lost for the 11th time in 14 games.
The pivotal moment came when the Bulls had established their lead at 83-59 early in the third quarter. Curry, recognizing the need for change, took charge of the game, leading the Warriors back. Chicago led 93-90 when Butler scored on a tip-in with 1:30 remaining, igniting a 16-1 run by the Warriors. Curry then pulled up for a 16-footer and buried another 3, putting Golden State up 97-93 with just 14 seconds left in the quarter, putting the visitors back on top.
Key moments continued when Butler scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter, starting with a three-point play off an alley-oop dunk followed by Podziemski’s layup to make it 106-94. This momentum shift was significant, demonstrating the Warriors' ability to capitalize on their chances.
One key statistic from the game was the Warriors' effective shooting from beyond the arc. They made 11 of 23 3-pointers in the second half and finished 19 of 48 for the game, showcasing their offensive prowess.
Looking ahead, the Warriors' six-game road trip continues with their next challenge against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. Meanwhile, the Bulls will face the Detroit Pistons at home on Tuesday, eager to halt their slide.