CHICAGO — Stephen Curry delivered an impressive performance by scoring 34 points and tying his season best with eight three-pointers in a thrilling game, while Jimmy Butler contributed 25 points in his debut with the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the Chicago Bulls 132-111 on Saturday night.
During the third quarter, Curry was particularly dominant, netting 24 points and hitting five of his three-pointers, which helped the Warriors overcome a staggering 24-point deficit to gain a three-point lead.
Butler made a significant impact in his first game after transferring from Miami. The six-time All-Star, who spent his initial six seasons in Chicago, successfully made 11 out of 13 free throws and recorded four assists, showcasing his ability to contribute immediately.
In addition to Curry and Butler, Quinten Post offered solid support with 18 points, and Brandin Podziemski added 16 points along with seven assists for the Warriors.
For the Bulls, Coby White stood out by leading the team with 27 points, including six three-pointers. Jalen Smith contributed 15 points and tied his career best by making four three-pointers, while rookie Matas Buzelis added another 16 points. Unfortunately for the Bulls, this defeat marked their 11th loss in 14 games.
Several takeaways can be drawn from the game. For the Warriors, the partnership between Butler and the team is still developing, but they appear to have made a promising start. On the other hand, the Bulls had a good run before a significant shift occurred during the third quarter, which led to a lapse in performance, highlighted by their 17 turnovers that contributed to 29 points for the Warriors.
A pivotal moment in the game took place when the Bulls were ahead 83-59 in the third quarter, but Curry quickly turned the tide in favor of Golden State. After trailing, the Warriors regained the lead at 93-90 when Butler’s tip-in ignited a 16-1 scoring run. Curry added to their momentum with a mid-range jumper followed by a three-pointer, pushing the score to 97-93 just before the end of the quarter, though White managed to reduce the deficit to three with a free throw.
As the fourth quarter began, Butler was quick to rally his team, scoring the first seven points, starting with a three-point play from an alley-oop dunk. Podziemski then made a layup, stretching the lead to 106-94 for the Warriors.
An essential statistic underscoring the Warriors’ second-half turnaround is that they made 11 of their 23 three-point attempts during that period, ultimately finishing with 19 successful three-pointers out of 48 attempts in the entire game.
Looking ahead, the Warriors will continue their six-game road trip with a matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, while the Bulls are set to host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.
