The Golden State Warriors didn’t have Stephen Curry on Sunday night, but Jimmy Butler made sure they didn’t need him. Butler led all scorers with 21 points while adding nine rebounds, seven assists, and two steals as the Warriors rolled past the Indiana Pacers 114–83 in San Francisco, per Field Level Media.
Golden State broke free from a third-quarter tie thanks to Butler’s steady control of the offense and Al Horford’s shooting touch. The veteran big man, who had missed 15 of his last 16 attempts from deep entering the night, connected on four of six threes to help build momentum off the bench.
The Warriors closed the third quarter on a 10–0 run, highlighted by a four-point play from Moses Moody, then opened the fourth with baskets from Will Richard and Butler to stretch the lead to 14. From there, Golden State cruised.
Afterward, Horford praised Butler for creating those opportunities and keeping him engaged, per Fadeaway World. “Jimmy [Butler], right away, made it a clear point to look for me,” Horford said. “There were a few times he had [open] layups, but he was looking out to kick it out and encouraging me to shoot the ball.”
Horford emphasized how Butler’s playmaking opened the game up for everyone. “The passes, they’re there and on the money,” he said. “So I credit a lot of that to him, to kind of getting me going offensively.”
Horford, Warriors Find Rhythm Before Curry’s Return
Horford finished with 12 points and four rebounds in 18 minutes, marking just his second double-digit scoring night of the season. His four made threes were a season high, and his three blocked shots added a defensive spark for Golden State.
“After the last game, Draymond challenged us to be better and come out with more intensity, more energy, and be better,” Horford said. “It’s something, I feel like, we did that today.”
Horford also spoke about Green’s impact as a communicator. “He’s very sharp, he gives great perspective, and I feel like he’s reasonable with us. He paints the picture clearly. I feel like he’s teaching out there a lot when he’s after us for stuff. He’s doing a really good job at that, and for me, it’s just trying to absorb and learn how he operates.”
Warriors Outlook
The win improved Golden State’s record to 6–3 and helped them end a brief skid without Curry, who head coach Steve Kerr confirmed will return Tuesday against the Thunder.
While the Pacers were short-handed, the performance revealed what Golden State can rely on when its star guard isn’t available. Butler’s ability to create offense and Horford’s shooting confidence stood out as bright spots that could carry forward as the team gets healthier.
“I feel like just things you’ve been seeing from afar all these years, and now that I’m here, I’m able to see it firsthand,” Horford said of learning from Green and the team’s leadership dynamic.
The Warriors now turn their attention to maintaining that same pace once Curry returns, hoping Sunday’s dominant showing proves to be a sign of balance and chemistry beginning to click.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Al Horford Gives Major Credit to Jimmy Butler After Pummeling Pacers appeared first on Heavy Sports.