The Warriors have been on fire lately, winning 11 of their last 13 games before taking on the Trail Blazers. It proves that there’s no one-size-fits-all playbook; success comes from mixing things up. Sometimes, the spotlight shines on the starters, while on other nights, the bench steals the show. By halftime Monday, they had already built a comfortable 19-point cushion, setting the tone early.

A big reason for that? Golden State’s bench came through in a big way.

Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield combined for 44 points, according to warriorsworld on X, with Hield finally snapping out of his shooting funk. He had been ice-cold in his last two games, managing just eight points on a brutal 3-for-15 from the field and 1-for-10 from deep.

But on Monday, he wasted no time getting shots up, clearly determined to shake off the slump. GP2 and Hield stole the show with their energy and shot-making. Payton’s hustle and defense made an instant impact, while Hield looked determined to put his slump behind him. Fans couldn’t help but take notice, flooding social media with reactions to their standout performances.

Warriors fans are in awe of Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield

Gary Payton II has been on an absolute tear lately, and fans are definitely noticing. One reaction summed it up perfectly: “GP2 been so good lately.” And honestly, it’s hard to argue.

His performance against Portland was just the latest in a string of big games. He dropped a team-high 26 points, shooting an efficient 11-for-16 from the field and 4-for-6 from deep. But this wasn’t just a one-night thing—he’s been making his presence felt all week. Against the Brooklyn Nets, he put up 16 points and 9 rebounds, and on March 1 against the Sixers, he finished with 15 points and 7 boards.

“Insane game by those two tonight.” tweeted another fan. GP2 didn’t just score—he brought his signature hustle, grabbing rebounds, making key defensive plays, and keeping the energy high all night. And Hield made history. His hot start from deep helped him climb the NBA’s all-time three-pointers made list, surpassing Eric Gordon for the 16th spot. Now sitting at 2,086 and counting, Hield continues to cement himself as one of the league’s elite shooters.

One fan summed up the Warriors’ identity perfectly: “Strength in numbers.” And if this season has proven anything, it’s that Golden State isn’t relying on just one guy to get the job done.

Most nights, Stephen Curry is the one carrying the scoring load, but when he has an off night—or defenses throw everything at him—someone else steps up. Lately, that’s been Jimmy Butler, showing why the Warriors made the big trade for him. And if it’s not Butler? Then it’s GP2 hustling his way to a huge game or Hield catching fire from deep.

Another netizen chimed in with, “GP2 4th best shooter.” While Payton II isn’t typically known for his shooting, his recent performances make that statement less of a stretch than it might seem. His field goal percentage for the month of March is 61.7%. That kind of efficiency isn’t an outlier—he’s been quietly improving his outside shooting.

One fan had a hard time believing this Warriors performance. “What is life?! We in a simulation?!!” they wrote. This wasn’t the expected script. On a night when the starters didn’t create much separation, Payton and Hield flipped the game upside down, leaving fans in disbelief. Sometimes, basketball just doesn’t make sense, and this was one of those nights where it felt like the Warriors were rewriting reality.