Jimmy Butler trading continues to pay dividends for the Golden State Warriors, which is 15-3 since they acquired it six times all-Star from Miami Heat on February 6.
Warriors (40-29) are prepared to resume their climb up the Western conference when they meet Toronto Raptors (24-45) on Thursday in San Francisco.
With Stephen Curry resting, Butler had 24 points, 10 assists and eight returns in Golden State 104-93 home victory over Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. Curry is expected to return to Thursday’s competition.
Butler’s presence has created point opportunities in the entire range for the Golden State. Brandin Podziemski scored 17 points against Milwaukee and Buddy Hield added 15 points from the bench.
“That’s why (Butler) is who he is,” Warriors said forward Draymond Green. “He commands so much attention. For us, it is good because he allows everyone else to get into their places where they are comfortable and either get a layout or open jumping shot.”
Butler is an average of 17.2 points, 5.9 returns and 6.1 assists in 17 matches since joining Warriors, which keeps the sixth seed in the west.
Green has also played a key role in the Golden State Surge while doing a strong case for his second NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Green helped to limit bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to 20 points on 5-1-16 shooting on Tuesday and has a combined nine block in the last two matches.
“Draymond, that defense tonight at Giannis was incredible,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “To hold him to five field goals, Draymond showed why he is still one of the great defenders in the world. It was not just the defense; the management, the energy.”
Golden State is looking for a division of the season series after Toronto got a victory 104-101 when the team met in Canada on January 13.
Raptors fell to 8-25 on the road with a loss of 129-89 to Phoenix Suns on Monday. Scottie Barnes had 16 points and Immanuel Quickley added 15 for short -handed Toronto, who played without RJ Barrett (illness), Grady Dick (right knee mark) and Jakob Poeltl (Vila).
Forward Jonathan Mogbo returned after missing six matches with a backward contusion and had two points, six returns and two assists in 27 minutes.
Raptors struggled to keep up with Phoenix while using their 30th start -up of the season. Toronto stopped shooting 35.6 percent from the field and 28.6 percent (10 out of 35) from 3-point intervals.
“It’s been a while since we have had a game like this,” said Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic. “All we have to do is forget this, fill the cup, bring the energy for the next and continue competing. I don’t want to make any conclusions based on poor performance here tonight.”
A bright place in the loss was the game of central Orlando Robinson, who had 12 points and eight returns in 21 minutes from the bench. The 24-year-old recorded three straight double doubles earlier this month and has fit well with the reconstruction of Raptors.
“I love my teammates; they are all nice and fun guys,” Robinson said. “As a unit we just love to compete. We are all young, run around and watch teams. We rejoice. We feed each other.”
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