Warriors Get Key Win as Jimmy Butler Highlights Curry’s Importance

The Golden State Warriors ended their short losing streak with a 114-83 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. The Pacers were missing Pascal Siakam, but for the Warriors, the win was more about building confidence. They had dropped two straight games and were still without star guard Stephen Curry, who is dealing with an illness. Getting back in the win column was important, especially with a difficult stretch of games coming up.

Starting Tuesday, Golden State will play six games in nine days. That includes road games against the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs on back-to-back nights. Those matchups would be tough under normal circumstances, and the team still isn’t sure when Curry will return. After the win, Jimmy Butler explained how big of a difference Curry makes.

Jimmy Butler said, “We’re going to play some really good teams on the road.” “You need to win some of these to show you can compete with the best. When we have number 30 (Curry), our chances go up a lot. But even if he’s not ready, we still have to go out there, compete, and try to win. It’s possible.”

This win was one of several recent games where Golden State played without Stephen Curry. The offense hasn’t looked as smooth, and Draymond Green only recorded three assists against Indiana. Still, the team found enough scoring and energy to control the game. Rookie guard Will Richard helped off the bench with 15 points in 19 minutes, while Butler led the offense with 21 points on 10-for-15 shooting.

However, the upcoming games will be a real test. The Thunder are currently one of the top teams in the league, and the Spurs have improved with the return of De’Aaron Fox. Golden State has shot well from three-point range even without Curry, hitting 42.7% from deep over the last three games. But to win, they’ll also need strong defense.

Both the Thunder and Spurs are among the top defensive teams in the league. Without Curry’s constant movement, the Warriors will need to stay locked in and communicate on defense. Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler will have major roles on both ends of the floor.

The Warriors still believe they can compete. But until Curry returns, they’ll need to play some of their best basketball to get through this tough stretch.

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