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Jimmy Butler III of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers.

The Golden State Warriors walked into Chicago looking like a team running on fumes. No Stephen Curry with his quad contusion. Draymond Green was out. No Al Horford. They were supposed to survive the weekend, not redefine themselves.

Instead, they left the United Center with a 123-91 win and something even more meaningful.
The Warriors now hold a top-three defensive rating in the NBA, a number that reflects exactly how they played on this road trip. Tough. Connected. Hungry. Their identity did not just show up. It punched through the noise.

Two nights. Two wins. And a reminder that this team can defend at an elite level when everything clicks.

Warriors Set the Tone Immediately

The Warriors did not ease their way into the game. They kicked the door down.

Buddy Hield opened the night with a three. Quinten Post cashed another. Then another. Then Jimmy Butler broke down the defense and fed Pat Spencer for a layup.

Four possessions. Four scores. Billy Donovan burned a timeout before the clock hit 10:30.

Golden State had 23 points in the first five minutes, which was one more than they scored in the opening quarters of their previous two games combined. The pace was sharp. The ball movement was crisp. Chicago never recovered from the early punch.

Even when the Warriors got loose with the ball to end the first quarter, they still held a 38-25 lead with eight made threes already logged.

Golden State Lock In and Control the Game

Chicago made its push in the second quarter. The crowd got louder. Nikola Vucevic found a rhythm. Second-year forward Matas Buzelis injected energy into the building.

The Warriors absorbed everything.

Golden State stayed tight defensively, rotated in sync and never allowed Chicago to find comfortable shots. The offense was balanced, with Post being the only Warrior in double figures at halftime as they built a 60-46 cushion.

It was collective. Five players moving at once. Five players playing for each other.

Exactly the version of Golden State that Steve Kerr has been waiting to see consistently.

Bulls Make a Run, Warriors Close Like a Veteran Team

The third quarter teased a dramatic swing. Chicago rattled off a 14-0 run, slicing a 24-point deficit down to 11. It felt like the moment the game might turn.

The Warriors refused to fold.

Butler steadied the offense. Brandin Podziemski stepped into a deep three off the dribble. Spencer managed the pace and put the ball where it needed to go.

Golden State entered the fourth with full command. Then they blew the game open.

A 20-2 blast to start the quarter buried Chicago. Butler took over everything. Will Richard splashed a dagger three to stretch the lead to 26. And Donovan sent in the reserves shortly after.

Once the Warriors seized control, they never let it go.

Seven Players Shine as Warriors Share the Spotlight

Seven Warriors scored in double figures.

Podziemski delivered his best offensive performance in weeks, finishing with 21 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and five made threes. His off-the-dribble three to halt Chicago’s momentum was the biggest shot of the night.

Butler added 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. Post matched him with 19 points of his own while turning in a standout defensive showing.

Spencer kept his hot streak alive with 12 points, six assists and a +30 on the night. Only Will Richard topped him with a +36.

Golden State finished with 22 made threes, their second-highest total of the season.

Rotation Picture Gets Complicated for the Warriors

As players return, the rotation puzzle is becoming more layered. On Sunday, both Jonathan Kuminga and Seth Curry registered DNPs. With the team finally looking connected and multiple role players stepping up, Kerr is leaning on the combinations that defend, move the ball and space the floor.

It is less about punishment and more about Golden State finding what works during a tricky stretch of the schedule.

And with reinforcements coming, every minute is earning-based.

The Last Word

Golden State heads home above .500, carrying momentum from back-to-back road wins and a few days of breathing room before the Minnesota Timberwolves arrive on Friday.

What stood out most on the trip was how connected they looked defensively. The Warriors played with a level of discipline and edge that matched what the metrics have hinted at for weeks, and this road swing finally showcased it in full. Two nights of gritty basketball. Two nights where the effort never dipped. A reminder of the identity they have been trying to reclaim.

The weekend belonged to the role players. The identity belonged to the group. And the best news came shortly after the buzzer.

Curry is expected back on Friday.

The Warriors survived the storm. Now they get their star back.

Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins

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