Jimmy Butler played first game back at Kaseya Center as a Golden State Warrior and did not go as planned.
Facing his former team, the Miami Heat dismantled the Warriors 112-86, handing them one of their worst defeats of the season.
Playing without Stephen Curry, who remains sidelined with a pelvic injury, the Warriors once again struggled offensively. Without their offensive engine, Golden State shot just 39.8% from the field and a dismal 23.7% from three-point range. Even Jimmy Butler, in what many expected to be a statement game, delivered an underwhelming performance, finishing with 11 points on 5-12 shooting.
However, Butler emphasized that Golden State’s biggest problem isn’t just scoring—it’s their defense. The Warriors allowed easy baskets at the rim and too many free-throw opportunities, something Butler believes needs to change immediately.
“Probably the effort coming out of the jump. We’ve got to guard a little bit better.Seems like as of late everyone’s been scoring at will at the rim, getting to the free-throw line. We’ve gotten away from what got us a couple wins.”, Jimmy Butler said postgame, via KNBR.
With Curry’s return timeline still uncertain, the Warriors must find a way to compete defensively if they want to stay afloat in the playoff race.
“Probably the effort coming out of the jump. We’ve got to guard a little bit better. Seems like as of late everyone’s been scoring at will at the rim, getting to the FT line. We’ve gotten away from what got us a couple wins.”
— KNBR (@KNBR) March 26, 2025
Jimmy Butler on what needs to change for Warriors pic.twitter.com/MCH7ERjKqj
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