Jimmy Butler’s ‘principled’ approach gives a preview of Warriors’ offense without Steph Curry

SAN FRANCISCO– Most of the Golden State Warriors' 104-96 victory over the rudderless New Orleans Pelicans was ugly. Very ugly.

Without Stephen Curry , who will miss the next couple of games with a left quad contusion, the Dubs shot 2-of-22 from beyond the arc in the first half and only 25.5% from there for the whole game. They entered the fourth quarter leading by only a point and needed a late 12-0 run to put away a 3-17 team who had already fired their head coach.

However, for as ugly as the Curry-less Warriors' offense looked for most of the night, it wasn't because Jimmy Butler wasn't imposing his will on the game.

The 36-year-old finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists on 7-of-15 shooting, 10-of-14 from the free throw line, and a game-high +22 plus/minus. But