SAN FRANCISCO – Jimmy Butler ran down the right lane of the court and caught a pass from Gary Payton II to finish a 2-on-1 fastbreak. He jumped off two feet, and was vertical with a 7-foot Lauri Markkanen, absorbing the Utah Jazz star before moving the ball to his right and kissing it off the glass for two points.

The Warriors beat the Jazz 134-117 Monday night at Chase Center to snap a three-game losing streak. Butler was their prize at last season’s trade deadline. Markkanen is the player they highly coveted during the 2024 summer.

There isn’t a thing the Warriors would change about acquiring Butler as Steph Curry’s co-star alongside Draymond Green.

“Lauri Markkanen is having an incredible run. He’s been playing at a high level for a couple years now,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said

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