Butler scores 18, but Curry injured in Warriors 117-114 win over Raptors

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jimmy Butler had 18 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists for his second triple-double with Golden State, and the Warriors held on to beat the Toronto Raptors 117-114 on Thursday night after Stephen Curry left the game with an injury.

Curry, who was held out of Tuesday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks to get rest, did not play the final 15 minutes after suffering a pelvic contusion. Curry was hurt while driving for a layup late in the third quarter when he landed hard on his tailbone as he crashed to the floor. He remained down for several moments before being helped to his feet and taken to the locker room.

Draymond Green added 21 points and seven rebounds for the Warriors. Quinten Post had 18 on six 3-pointers.

Scottie Barnes had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors. Immanuel Quickley scored 21 while Jakob Poeltl added 18 points and eight rebounds.

Raptors: Playing a third consecutive game without RJ Barrett, Toronto kept the game close but didn’t have enough firepower to get over the top.

Warriors: Steve Kerr’s squad completed a 6-1 homestand looking very much like a team ready to push deep into the postseason. The Warriors improved to 16-3 since acquiring Butler before the trade deadline.

With the Warriors clinging to a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter Butler made a fantastic block on Jamal Shead’s layup attempt and was then fouled. He made both free throws to secure the win.

Green scored 18 points in the first half, the most he’s had in the first two quarters of a game since getting 22 against the Cavaliers in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals.

The Warriors face the Hawks in Atlanta on Saturday. The Raptors host the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, center, moves the ball between Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji (30) and forward Jamison Battle (77) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post reacts after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) shoots over Toronto Raptors center Colin Castleton during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) moves the ball next to Toronto Raptors forward Jonathan Mogbo (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III, center, passes the ball between Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl, left, and guard Scottie Barnes during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry grimaces in pain after a rough landing in the 3rd quarter against Toronto Raptors during NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Thursday, March 20, 2025.(Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry grimaces in pain after a rough landing in the 3rd quarter against Toronto Raptors during NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

BEIJING (AP) — U.S. Senator Steve Daines, a strong supporter of President Donald Trump met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, with warm exchanges in front of journalists on Saturday even as tensions between their countries spiked over trade tariffs and the handling of the illegal trade in fentanyl.

Daines, the first member of Congress to visit Beijing since Trump took office in January, will meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday and the nation's No. 2 official will give him an introduction to China's policies, according to He.

Daines, who previously worked for American consumer goods company Procter & Gamble in south China's economic hub of Guangzhou, said this trip marked his sixth visit to China and he had met Li Qiang in 2018 when he served as the party secretary of Shanghai.

He said this visit comes at a time when there are some important issues to discuss between China and the U.S.

“I’ve always believed in having constructive dialogue and that has been the nature of all my visits to China over the course of many years,” he said.

Ahead of the trip that began on Thursday, his office said he is coordinating closely with the White House and will be “carrying President Trump’s America First agenda.” Daines served as a go-between during the first Trump administration when tariffs were also a major issue.

Daines, a senator for Montana, said on X earlier this week that he would be talking with Chinese officials about curbing the production and distribution of fentanyl and “the need to reduce the trade deficit and ensure fair market access for our Montana farmers, ranchers and producers.”

Just months into Trump's second term, tensions between the world’s two largest economies have risen after the U.S. imposed 20% duties on Chinese goods and drew retaliatory tariffs of 15% on U.S. farm goods from China. Additionally, the U.S. accuses China of doing too little to stop the export of precursor materials for fentanyl, a highly potent opiate blamed for tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S.

In response, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier this month accused Washington of “meeting good with evil” and said China will continue to retaliate for the United States’ “arbitrary tariffs."

Beijing also responded with a report detailing its efforts to control the illegal trade in fentanyl, specifically the ingredients for the opioid that are made in China.

The report said that China and the U.S. have held multiple high-level meetings since early last year to promote cooperation, and that its Narcotics Control Bureau holds regular exchanges with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

China is committed to cooperation, the report said, “but firmly opposes the U.S. imposition of unlawful sanctions and unreasonable pressure on China on the pretext of responding to fentanyl-related issues.”

Daines arrived in Beijing on Thursday and exchanged views with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu on bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern on the second day. His trip to the Chinese capital followed a visit to Vietnam where he met top leaders.

U.S. Senator Steve Daines, center, looks at Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, left before their meeting held in the Xinjiang Room at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, Pool)

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, second right, holds talks with U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, second from left, before a meeting held at the Xinjiang Room at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, Pool)

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, right, shows the way for U.S. Sen. Steve Daines before a meeting held in the Xinjiang Room at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, Pool)

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, right, shakes hands with U.S. Senator Steve Daines before a meeting held in the Xinjiang Room at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, Pool)