BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER
Gary Payton II came off the bench to score a career high 26 points, and Jimmy Butler notched his first triple-double as a Warrior, helping to lead Golden State to a hard fought 130-120 win over the Portland Trailblazers Monday night at Chase Center.
Golden State’s Moses Moody dribbles around Portland’s Scoot Henderson on the way to a 20 point night during the Warriors win at Chase Center.
Golden State jumped out to a 68-49 halftime lead before the upstart Trail Blazers found their game, outscoring the Warriors 43-34 in the third and closing within four points late in the quarter.
The win, their fifth in a row and tenth in their last 11 games, helped keep the Warriors (37-28) in sixth place in the tightly contested Western Conference, a half game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Steph Curry added 24 points, going 5-11 from behind the arc to finish the night with 3,998 three-pointers in his career, two shy of becoming the first player in NBA history to make 4,000 career three’s. Buddy Hield poured in 20 points while going six of nine from the three-point line while Moses Moody added another 20. Butler’s line included 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Warriors improved to 12-1 with him in the lineup since his debut with Golden State.
Jimmy Butler receives a pass in the paint on the way to his first triple double since joining the Warriors on the way to a 130-120 win over Portland Monday night at Chase Center.
Asked how much he’s enjoying being in a new environment, Butler replied: “Winning is everything. I enjoy being around these guys. Everyone wants everyone to be great in this locker room. We just have to keep rolling. We haven’t really hit adversity yet, but when it does come, I think that we will be able to stick through it together. We will figure it out.”
Deni Avdija returned after missing two games to lead all scorers with a season high 34 points for Portland on 11-15 shooting with five three’s to go along with season highs of 16 rebounds and six assists. Anfernee Simons added 32 (12-21) while rookie Donovan Clingan contributed 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
Portland forward Deni Avdija drives to the basket on the way to season highs of 34 points, 16 rebounds and six assists against the Warriors Monday night.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, questioned about the importance of the every game at this point in the season, stated “It’s a sprint to the finish for sure. Scheduling is really interesting. You go through stuff all year, everybody does. Injuries, slumps. Then you get healthy, and the schedule turns your way. Lakers and Dallas are going through it right now with some injuries, tough scheduling. Looks like Houston, Minnesota, obviously us, we’re all kind of on the rise with our play but the schedule has helped us all too. Everybody ends up playing the same schedule pretty much. It’s why we always say it’s a marathon not a sprint. The last 15, 17 games it turns into a sprint.”
The Warriors return to the court Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings in the third game of a seven game home stand.
GAME NOTES:
Portland was without two of their starters, Jerami Grant and DeAndre Ayton, each averaging 14.4 points per game.
The Warriors shot 51% from beyond the arc, going 21 for 41 on the game. Their five consecutive wins matches their season best winning streak for the third time.
The game marked the second time this season that Golden State has had two reserves score at least 20 points (Payton II, 26 and Hield, 20).
The Warriors had four players score 20 plus points in the same game for the third time this season (2-1 in those contests).
