Takeaways From Warriors' Win Over Knicks: Dubs Star Playing Best Ball Of Season

The Golden State Warriors (23-19) dominated from nan three-point statement en way to a 126-113 triumph complete nan New York Knicks (25-16) connected Thursday astatine Chase Center.

The Warriors went 20-of-45 from three, outscoring nan Knicks by 18 points from downtown.

Jimmy Butler had a game-high 32 points, while Stephen Curry added 27.

Here are 3 takeaways from Thursday's game.

Butler Is Playing Like a Top-10 Player Right Now

Thursday was a Butler masterclass.

He had 32 points connected 14-of-22 shooting pinch 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and zero turnovers. He vanished plus-15.

Butler has had a awesome play overall, but nan uptick successful scoring ratio while still having a awesome assist-to-turnover ratio complete his past 4 games has been noticeable.

His averages successful that agelong are 23.3 points per crippled connected 60.3 percent shooting pinch 5.3 assists and conscionable 1 turnover per game. He's besides a cumulative plus-47 complete nan past four.

One could reason Butler has been a top-20 subordinate for nan season, arsenic his Dunks and Threes EPM has him astatine 13th overall. But complete nan past 4 games, he's been moreover better, suggesting he's playing for illustration a top-10 subordinate correct now.

It's each nan much awesome considering Butler has missed conscionable 5 games this play and is connected gait to play 72, which would beryllium his highest full since nan 2016-17 season. At 36, it would beryllium understandable if Butler were slowing down a bit, but alternatively he's playing amended than he did past season.

Moody, Podz Should Be Kept astatine Trade Deadline Unless They Are successful Star Package

Moses Moody had been successful a rut for weeks, but he collapsed retired of it Thursday pinch 7 threes. Brandin Podziemski was moreover much stellar, finishing 8-of-9 from nan section pinch 19 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. He was a game-high plus-22.

Many fans want some to beryllium traded, and to beryllium clear, I understand nan frustration. Podz has not taken a third-year leap, and Moody has not taken advantage of his starting spot pinch accordant play. Both were considerably amended down nan agelong of past season.

But location isn't an evident upgrade you tin get for either aliases some of them.

For example, nan Warriors mightiness want to target Robert Williams III aliases Daniel Gafford successful 1 waste and acquisition and prevention their Kuminga waste and acquisition for personification else. If so, they'll request Moody's statement to make nan money work.

As bully arsenic it would beryllium to person Williams aliases Gafford, nan Warriors would miss Moody's perimeter defense moreover more.

If nan Warriors request to see Podz to get Trey Murphy III aliases Moody to get Michael Porter Jr., past you do that without second-guessing it. But different they should enactment put.

Post Will Lose His Starting Spot Soon

The Warriors mislaid nan first 5:05 of nan crippled 21-11, and successful that clip Quinten Post went 0-of-2 from nan level pinch nary different stats.

Overall, Post played conscionable 12 minutes, scoring 5 points connected 2-of-9 shooting pinch conscionable 2 rebounds and 1 turnover.

Meanwhile, Al Horford had different coagulated game, scoring 5 points connected 2-of-5 shooting pinch 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 bargain and 1 turnover.

On nan 1 hand, it's clear that Horford is much comfortable playing successful nan Butler-with-no-Curry lineups than nan Curry-with-no-Butler lineups. So if Horford starts, it mightiness eat into really galore minutes he tin play successful nan Butler lineups later.

But connected nan different hand, nan Warriors can't support losing nan first strech of nan game.

The Warriors person conscionable 1 much back-to-back earlier nan All-Star break, which occurs connected Jan. 19 and 20. My conjecture is Horford will beryllium starting connected Jan. 22 and will stay location until astatine slightest nan past crippled earlier nan break connected Feb. 11.

But this full thought mightiness get thrown disconnected erstwhile nan Warriors make a trade. If they get a large wing, possibly they'll consciousness amended astir starting Draymond Green astatine nan 5. If they get a halfway upgrade, they mightiness commencement that center.

In immoderate event, I'm guessing Post will not beryllium successful nan opening lineup overmuch longer. He'll still get plentifulness of minutes, but possibly not being successful nan starting 5 will return immoderate unit disconnected him.