Let’s dive into probability and poetry, Dub Nation. The Warriors (26-26) head to Milwaukee to take on a struggling Bucks squad (27-23), armed with their latest game-changing weapon. The stats are starting to tell an intriguing story.

When it comes to Jimmy Butler and the Milwaukee Bucks, their history feels like Omar strolling through the streets in The Wire—spreading fear the moment he appears. In the 2023 playoffs, Butler didn’t just defeat the Bucks; he took apart the top seed with a level of precision and cold-blooded execution reminiscent of a heist film, where the mastermind calmly lays out the plan while dressed in an impeccably tailored suit.

Golden State Warriors at Milwaukee Bucks
When: February 10th, 2024 | 5:00 PM PT
TV: NBC Sports
Radio: 95.7 The Game

Remember that series? Butler torched Milwaukee with a staggering 37.6 points per game—a number so absurd you almost have to double-check to make sure it’s not a typo. He didn’t just break down the Bucks’ defense; he turned it into his personal playground before sending them packing from the playoffs. That wasn’t just scoring—it was artistry, laced with a bit of psychological warfare.

But here’s the nightmare scenario for Milwaukee: that was Butler operating within Miami’s system. Now? He’s got the greatest shooter of all time bending defensive schemes like a basketball black hole. The Warriors aren’t just adding Butler’s proven ability to dismantle the Bucks—they’re bringing a completely retooled offense that just hung 132 points on Chicago.

Milwaukee has long struggled with drop coverage against elite guards, and now Butler gets to exploit that with Steph Curry’s gravitational pull. As Butler himself put it: “They’re not leaving him ever. I get to play 1-on-1 or in space.” That’s the equivalent of handing a master safecracker the building’s blueprints and telling the security team to go grab lunch.

In their first game together, the Butler-Curry duo exploded for 59 points, orchestrating a jaw-dropping 45-point swing that had the Bulls rethinking everything. Their on-court chemistry was instant, their impact undeniable.

Here’s a look at their combined shot chart, where they went 17-of-31 from the field:

What we witnessed in Chicago was a Warriors squad that finally had a counterpunch to complement Steph’s knockout blows. When defenses swarm Curry—who casually dropped 24 points in a single quarter against the Bulls—they’re now faced with Butler relentlessly attacking the rim. It’s like choosing between a tooth extraction and a root canal—either way, it’s going to hurt.

The timing couldn’t be better for Golden State to take on Milwaukee, a team currently fumbling through solutions like they’re trying to solve a Rubik’s cube in the dark. The Bucks have dropped six of their last ten and are now pinning their hopes on Kyle Kuzma, who’s struggling through a career-worst 28.6% from three and just 60% from the free-throw line.

Milwaukee will counter with their own superstar duo in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, but they’re still figuring out how to operate without Khris Middleton. Meanwhile, the Warriors just flipped a 24-point deficit into a 21-point victory—and their new lineup barely knows each other’s coffee orders yet.

Somewhere on Monday night, Pat Riley might be watching through clenched teeth, realizing that letting Butler go was a mistake roughly the size of Wisconsin itself.

The Jimmy Butler Revenge Tour rolls on. Milwaukee is just another stop—but something tells me this one’s been circled in red.

More often than not, a shift in team mentality is what leads to dramatic comeback victories.

Saturday was no exception as the Warriors overcame a 24-point gap in the third quarter, securing a 132-111 win against the Chicago Bulls at United Center.

Jimmy Butler, who contributed 25 points and four assists in his first game for the Warriors, shed light on the team’s successful second-half approach.

“Get some stops,” Butler told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bonta Hill, Chris Mullin and Festus Ezeli on “Warriors Postgame Live.”

“We all know whenever we can guard, get into the open floor [that] we’re definitely going to score enough points. We’re going to make enough shots. We just got to guard without fouling.”

Trailing 83-59 with just over eight minutes left in the third quarter against Chicago, the Warriors were in desperate need of solutions on both offense and defense.

Jimmy Butler, alongside Draymond Green, spearheaded the defensive effort, while Steph Curry delivered an unforgettable performance, scoring 22 points in the last eight-plus minutes of the quarter.

The 36-year-old guard ended the game with 34 points, shooting 10-of-19 from the field and 8-of-16 from three-point range. The Warriors outscored the Bulls 73-28 in the final 20-plus minutes of play.

Butler, who started for Golden State without any minute restrictions, brought a fresh level of energy to coach Steve Kerr’s strategies.

Although it’s just one game, the mindset displayed on Saturday suggests that the Warriors could become a formidable and resilient team.

What Are Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry Saying About First Win After Trade?

The Golden State Warriors seized the moment at the NBA trade deadline, making a decisive move by acquiring Jimmy Butler to boost their immediate chances.

Butler showcased his skills in his debut for the Warriors on Saturday night, contributing 25 points with an impressive shooting performance, hitting 7 of 12 shots and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line.

The Warriors rallied from being down by 14 at halftime to defeat the Chicago Bulls 132-111. Stephen Curry, playing alongside his new teammate Butler for the first time, excelled, tallying 34 points, four rebounds, and six assists, including eight successful three-pointers.

“He’s like the exact opposite player of me which is kind of funny. I shot 16 three’s, he shot 1, he got to the line a lot, he’s dominating the paint, I’m dominating the outside, guys working around us, it has the potential to be really fun.” Curry said in the post-game press conference of Butler.. And Jimmy saw it the same way.

“They say opposites attract in life. I don’t think I could be a better complement to him and vice versa. They’re (the defense) not leaving him ever, probably two people. There’s so much space with everyone else, I get the easy job. It’s so great playing with someone like that.” Butler said in response to his new running-mate’s comments.

“You talk about killer. You talk about a lion that’s going for the kill every time. That’s who he is. I’m ready to be his teammate and ride along side him.” Butler told reporters.

The lion analogy wasn’t just about Butler. After the game, when head coach Steve Kerr was questioned about Butler, he responded with an answer that felt strikingly familiar.

“He’s a lion out there. He’s a force.” Kerr said.

Kerr continued, “It’s the swagger that he gives us. He gives confidence to the rest of the group including Steph and Draymond (Green) and that’s important.”

The combination of Butler, Curry, Green, and Kerr is set to steer the Warriors’ performance for the rest of the season. Saturday’s victory pushed the Warriors’ record back to an even .500 at 26-26. Currently on a seven-game road trip, they have four games left to play. Their next matchup is against the Milwaukee Bucks in Milwaukee on Monday.

Jayson Tatum was clearly motivated by the presence of celebrities like Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Carmelo Anthony, and Stephon Marbury at Madison Square Garden on a snowy New York night.

With the eyes of the basketball world watching, the Celtics had another chance to showcase their championship credentials against a tough opponent.

This wasn’t just any game; it was in New York, not Cleveland, and Tatum was determined to bounce back from his lackluster showing against the Dallas Mavericks.

Right from the opening 48 seconds of the first quarter, Tatum set the tone. After receiving a pass from Derrick White and using a screen from Luke Kornet, he outmaneuvered Karl-Anthony Towns with a deceptive move, leaving Precious Achiuwa as the last defender.

Tatum then powerfully dunked the ball, marking the first points of the game and setting the stage for his exceptional performance.

Tatum’s 40-point game, especially his 18 in the third quarter, was a spectacle. He danced with the crowd’s energy, sinking three-pointers, exploiting the Knicks’ double teams to drive or pass to open teammates.

His ability to navigate and dismantle the defense tailored to stop him was impressive, and his teammates complemented his efforts beautifully.

This dominant 131-104 victory over the Knicks, even without key players like Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, underscored the Celtics as the Eastern Conference’s top team and confirmed Tatum’s status as an elite player.

Despite recent signs of fatigue as the All-Star Break approached, Tatum shone brightly when it mattered most, suggesting that the Knicks’ strategy to contain him with Mikal Bridges might not be the game-changer they hoped for.

“Besides Boston, this is probably the best place to play,” Tatum said of New York. “They got, you know, all the celebrities. They also have an edge about them. They know basketball. They’re passionate. They chant, and they’re cheering the whole time. So, it’s a special place to play.

“We lost last game, and finding out [Porzingis] was out right before the game. We knew it was going to be a challenge. I saw Denzel Washington sitting courtside, so I was excited about that.”

Even though Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, was relatively quiet at the trade deadline with just one minor move, he expressed confidence in the team’s depth when everyone is performing well. The Celtics’ performance on Saturday was a testament to this, and it’s a promising sign that their consistency is becoming more reliable.

If Luke Kornet were a quarterback, his performance would equate to a perfect passer rating of 158.3. He went 7-for-7 from the field, blocked three shots, and grabbed 12 rebounds, just one shy of his career best. The Celtics have been hoping for Kornet to toughen up his game, showing a bit more edge like Nicky Santoro from “Casino” rather than his usual Mr. Rogers persona.

This might have been Kornet’s best game as a Celtic, signaling he can be trusted with significant playing time, especially in the absence of Kristaps Porzingis. With 29 games left in the season, the Celtics have a chance to address their deficiencies, help players who’ve been struggling to find their form, and build greater team confidence and unity.

“It was obviously a game that the guys wanted,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “It should be that way but at the same time we have to do the same thing 36 hours or whatever it is from now (against Miami). It was a great environment and I thought the guys kind of relished in that and stuck together.”

One takeaway from this victory was that it left the Knicks just as perplexed as they were when the Celtics hit 29 three-pointers to rout them in the season opener.

The Knicks had made notable offseason acquisitions, including trading for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, and re-signing OG Anunoby, who was sidelined for Saturday’s game with a foot injury.

Despite having 3½ months to prepare since their last encounter and four days to rest, the Knicks demonstrated they still have a considerable gap to close if they aim to be among the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

“”We have a lot of work to do. As simple as that,” Towns said. “There’s no sugarcoating. There’s no moral wins. This is something we have to work on. We got to find a way to beat teams like tonight. That’s a team that is in the race. They want to be in the race as much as we do to win a championship but for them, it’s another one. A back-to-back. Like I said, championship teams are great teams, in my experience. They test your discipline and that’s something that we have to work on.”

With only two games remaining before the All-Star Break – against Miami and San Antonio – Saturday’s game demonstrated that the Celtics are nearing full strength as they head into this well-deserved respite. They’ve successfully navigated two recent challenges, including a standout performance at basketball’s iconic venue. It was heartening to see the Celtics exhibit their championship qualities under the spotlight.

The challenge now is to maintain that level of performance even when the stakes aren’t as high.