Much of the chatter around the Warriors in recent days has been about Butler. About his relatively minimal impact or not being utilized properly or his mounting frustration amid the team’s consistent mediocrity.
He responded by putting more emphasis on scoring and delivering the kind of assertive offensive performance that ably supports Curry and makes Golden State appreciably more difficult to defend. Butler seemed on a mission to challenge the Suns.
While Curry played 18 first-half minutes, scoring five points, Butler played 18 minutes and went into intermission with a team-high 16 points, 11 of which came in seven first-quarter minutes.
Butler’s 31 points came on 11-of-17 shooting from the field, including a clutch 3-ball with 35.5 seconds remaining, and 8-of-9 from the line.