Playing without Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors leaned on Jimmy Butler’s all-around brilliance to secure a 104-93 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. Butler filled the stat sheet with 24 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists, guiding Golden State to its fifth win in six games during a crucial seven-game homestand.
With Curry sitting out for a mental and emotional break, guard Brandin Podziemski stepped up in the starting lineup, delivering 17 points and seven rebounds, while Buddy Hield added 15 points off the bench. The Warriors set the tone early and maintained control throughout, capitalizing on Milwaukee’s sluggish start. The Bucks, led by Kyle Kuzma’s 22 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 20-point, nine-rebound effort, struggled to close the gap.
A key moment came late in the fourth quarter when Gary Trent Jr. missed a potential game-tying three, and Podziemski answered with his third triple of the night to help seal the win. Now sitting at 40-39, Golden State remains in the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference with just 13 games left in the regular season, and we have a rating for every one of their players after his Tuesday night performance.
Jimmy Butler III: A-
Stats: 24 PTS, 8 REB (2 OREB, 6 DREB), 10 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 5 TO, 2 PF, 6-13 FG, 1-4 3PT, 11-11 FT, +14, 37 MIN
Butler played the role of floor general to perfection, dictating the pace and keeping the Warriors organized in Curry’s absence. His ability to get to the free-throw line (11-for-11) kept Milwaukee’s defense on edge, and while his five turnovers were a blemish, his leadership was invaluable in securing the win.
Brandin Podziemski: B+
Stats: 17 PTS, 7 REB (1 OREB, 6 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PF, 6-10 FG, 4-7 3PT, 1-2 FT, +3, 29 MIN
Inserted into the starting lineup, Podziemski delivered an efficient scoring performance, knocking down four threes and showing poise under pressure. His late triple to help seal the game was a testament to his confidence, and his work on the glass (seven rebounds) showed his nose for the ball.
Buddy Hield: B+
Stats: 15 PTS, 6 REB (0 OREB, 6 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 5-7 FG, 4-6 3PT, 1-1 FT, +11, 24 MIN
Hield provided exactly what Golden State needed from him—instant offense off the bench. His 4-for-6 shooting from deep spaced the floor and punished Milwaukee’s defensive lapses, making him one of the more impactful role players in this matchup.
Quinten Post: B
Stats: 14 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 5 PF, 5-10 FG, 4-9 3PT, 0-0 FT, +9, 23 MIN
Post made the most of his minutes, contributing 14 points while firing away from deep with confidence (4-for-9 from three). Though his three turnovers and five fouls were signs of growing pains, his shooting gave the Warriors an extra scoring punch.
Draymond Green: C+
Stats: 3 PTS, 10 REB (0 OREB, 10 DREB), 4 AST, 2 STL, 4 BLK, 2 TO, 5 PF, 1-6 FG, 0-5 3PT, 1-2 FT, +14, 36 MIN
Draymond Green’s impact was felt more on the defensive end, where he racked up four blocks and two steals while controlling the glass with 10 rebounds. However, his offensive struggles (1-for-6 from the field, 0-for-5 from three) were glaring, and his five fouls limited his aggression late.
Moses Moody: C+
Stats: 7 PTS, 7 REB (2 OREB, 5 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 2-9 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2-2 FT, 0, 25 MIN
Moody’s energy on the boards (seven rebounds) and his steady playmaking (three assists, zero turnovers) were positives, but his shooting woes (2-for-9) prevented him from being a bigger factor in the win. Despite the inefficiency, he played solid minutes.
Jonathan Kuminga: C
Stats: 10 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 2-10 FG, 0-2 3PT, 6-6 FT, -11, 24 MIN
Kuminga had a rough night shooting, hitting just 2-of-10 from the field, but his ability to get to the free-throw line (6-for-6) salvaged his scoring numbers. His defensive presence was minimal, and his four fouls kept him from finding a rhythm.
Gary Payton II: C+
Stats: 8 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 3-7 FG, 2-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, +7, 17 MIN
While not as dynamic as usual, Payton hit a couple of key threes and played his usual brand of aggressive perimeter defense. His lack of rebounding was surprising, but his energy still gave the Warriors a boost in limited minutes.
Gui Santos: N/A
Stats: 3 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 1-1 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -6, 8 MIN
Santos made a brief appearance and knocked down his lone three-point attempt, adding four rebounds in just eight minutes. His limited playing time makes it hard to gauge his full impact, but he was efficient with his touches.
Pat Spencer: N/A
Stats: 2 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +7, 6 MIN
Spencer saw minimal floor time but managed to contribute a steal and a bucket. His hustle was noticeable, but his role was too small to leave a lasting impression on the game.
Kevon Looney: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 0, 6 MIN
Looney played just six minutes, blocking two shots but failing to make an impact elsewhere. His role has diminished as the Warriors have leaned into smaller, faster lineups.
Trayce Jackson-Davis: N/A
Stats: 1 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, +7, 4 MIN
Jackson-Davis got a brief run and split a pair of free throws, but he wasn’t on the court long enough to make much of a difference.
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