Jimmy Butler, Warriors look to maintain momentum vs. Raptors
March 20 - The Jimmy Butler trade continues to pay dividends for the Golden State Warriors, who are 15-3 since acquiring the six-time All-Star from the Miami Heat on Feb. 6.
The Warriors (40-29) are poised to resume their climb up the Western Conference standings when they face the Toronto Raptors (24-45) on Thursday in San Francisco.
With Stephen Curry resting, Butler had 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in Golden State's 104-93 home win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. Curry is expected to return for Thursday's contest.
Butler's presence has created scoring opportunities throughout the lineup for Golden State. Brandin Podziemski scored 17 points against Milwaukee and Buddy Hield added 15 points off the bench.
"It's why (Butler) is who he is," Warriors forward Draymond Green said. "He commands so much attention. For us, that's great because he's allowing everybody else to get in their spots where they're comfortable and either get layups or open jump shots."
Butler is averaging 17.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 17 games since joining the Warriors, who hold the sixth seed in the West.
Green has also played a key role in Golden State's surge while making a strong case for his second NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Green helped limit Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to 20 points on 5-of-16 shooting on Tuesday and has a combined nine blocks in his past two games.
"Draymond, that defense tonight on Giannis was incredible," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "To hold him to five field goals, Draymond showed why he is still one of the great defenders in the world. It wasn't just the defense; it was the leadership, the energy."
Golden State is looking for a split of the season series after Toronto earned a 104-101 victory when the teams met in Canada on Jan. 13.
The Raptors fell to 8-25 on the road with a 129-89 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday. Scottie Barnes had 16 points and Immanuel Quickley added 15 for short-handed Toronto, which played without RJ Barrett (illness), Gradey Dick (right knee bruise) and Jakob Poeltl (rest).
Forward Jonathan Mogbo returned after missing six games with a back contusion and had two points, six rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes.
The Raptors struggled to keep pace with Phoenix while using their 30th starting lineup of the season. Toronto finished shooting 35.6 percent from the field and 28.6 percent (10 of 35) from 3-point range.
"It's been awhile since we've had a game like this," Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. "All we've got to do is forget this one, fill the cup, bring the energy for the next one and continue competing. I don't want to make any conclusions based on one poor performance here tonight."
One bright spot in the loss was the play of center Orlando Robinson, who had 12 points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench. The 24-year-old recorded three straight double-doubles earlier this month and has fit in well with the rebuilding Raptors.
"I love my teammates; they're all nice and funny guys," Robinson said. "As a unit we just love competing. We're all young, running around, guarding teams. We take joy in that. We feed off each other."
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The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Pacers vs Thunder NBA Finals live updates: Time, TV, odds for Game 1
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard and league Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic were unanimous selections from a panel of 100 global reporters and broadcasters who cover the NBA voted on the squad. View the complete list. Winners over the past 20 years. For a full list of champions, visit 2023-24 -- Boston Celtics 2022-23 -- Denver Nuggets 2021-22 -- Golden State Warriors 2020-21 -- Milwaukee Bucks 2019-20 -- Los Angeles Lakers 2018-19 -- Toronto Raptors 2017-18 -- Golden State Warriors 2016-17 -- Golden State Warriors 2015-16 -- Cleveland Cavaliers 2014-15 -- Golden State Warriors 2013-14 -- San Antonio Spurs 2012-13 -- Miami Heat 2011-12 -- Miami Heat 2010-11 -- Dallas Mavericks 2009-10 -- Los Angeles Lakers 2008-09 -- Los Angeles Lakers 2007-08 -- Boston Celtics 2006-07 -- San Antonio Spurs 2005-06 -- Miami Heat 2004-05 -- San Antonio Spurs The Oklahoma City Thunder are favorites to take a 1-0 lead over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, according to BetMGM (odds as of Wednesday, June 4): Spread : Thunder (-9.5) : Thunder (-9.5) Moneyline : Thunder (-450); Pacers (+340) : Thunder (-450); Pacers (+340) Over/under: 231.5 The Oklahoma City Thunder enter Game 1 as the favorite to win the 2025 NBA Finals over the Indiana Pacers, according to BetMGM (odds as of Wednesday, June 4) Series winner: Thunder (-700); Pacers (+500) USA TODAY: Every expert picks the Thunder All of the NBA experts at USA Today Sports picked the Oklahoma City Thunder to beat the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals Scooby Axson: Thunder in five Thunder in five Cydney Henderson: Thunder in six Thunder in six Jordan Mendoza: Thunder in six Thunder in six Lorenzo Reyes: Thunder in six Thunder in six Heather Tucker: Thunder in five Thunder in five James Williams: Thunder in six Thunder in six Jeff Zillgitt: Thunder in five ESPN: 14 out of 15 experts pick Thunder 14 out of 15 of ESPN's NBA experts pick the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. 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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Draymond Green makes astonishing NBA Finals claim ahead of Pacers-Thunder showdown
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The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- The Herald Scotland
NBA Finals could be decided by Thunder, Pacers unsung heroes
Think Steve Kerr's nine points off the bench for the Chicago Bulls -- seven of which came in the fourth quarter -- in the closeout Game 6 of the 1997 Finals, including the game-winning, 14-foot jumper with 5 seconds to play. Think Andre Iguodala winning Most Valuable Player of the 2015 NBA Finals for the Golden State Warriors, despite being a sixth man for most of the series. Now, not every role player will win MVP, but steady contributions, in a series with two deep teams, will go a long way. Here's a look at three under-the-radar players for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers who could make the difference between winning and losing in the 2025 NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder Alex Caruso, guard He gives them incredible defensive versatility off the bench, as he's capable of guarding any position on the floor. This postseason, he has been tasked with defending Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards. Plus, when he's on the floor, the Thunder can go to an incredibly small lineup -- with Caruso serving as the center -- which could come in handy against a quick and athletic Pacers team. Kenrich Williams, forward He was essentially out of the rotation in the first and second rounds of the playoffs, but Williams provided energy and offense in limited minutes off the bench during the Western Conference finals. In the five games of that series, Williams played just 47:42 and posted a +32 in plus-minus. Known affectionately as Kenny Hustle, Williams is a quintessential spark off the bench whose effort -- tipping rebounds to teammates and saving loose balls -- often doesn't appear in box scores. Luguentz Dort, guard Though Dort is a starter, he's the fourth- or fifth-best offensive option on the unit, on a similar level as center Isaiah Hartenstein. But Dort, who is persistent and physical, will likely be the primary defender on Tyrese Haliburton. Using his hands to slow the players he defends, Dort can easily frustrate opposing guards into mistakes or foul trouble. This is exactly the type of matchup that he gets up for. ANALYSIS: Haters gonna hate, but NBA's 3-point shot is crucial to winning titles PACERS VS. THUNDER: Which team has the edge in NBA Finals? Indiana Pacers Bennedict Mathurin, forward When the Pacers need a scoring lift off the bench, it's usually Mathurin who provides it. Though he struggled in the first three games of the Eastern Conference finals, Mathurin played with intention and force in Games 4 and 5. He attacked and drew contact, often getting Knicks guards into foul trouble. And when he got to the line, he was lethal, draining all but one of his 29 attempts from the stripe in the series. Indiana will need his scoring off the bench with the second unit. T.J. McConnell, guard Speaking of the second unit, Haliburton's backup will need to step up, too. McConnell is a 33-year-old veteran whose game is often deliberate, but he provides high energy, scoring from the mid-range and play-making out of the point guard spot. He rarely plays more than 20 minutes a game, but McConnell will play a massive part in making sure the Pacers don't fall behind when Haliburton gets a rest. Thomas Bryant and Tony Bradley, centers The Thunder have excellent height in their starting lineup with Chet Holmgren and Hartenstein, a pair of 7-footers looming in the frontcourt. Bryant, who flushed 3-of-4 attempts from 3 in the Game 6 clincher in the Eastern Conference finals, played because Bradley was nursing a hip injury. Given OKC's height, this could be a series where Bryant and Bradley both play, even if Bradley isn't a full go. The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.
