In a bodily recreation they by no means trailed, the Warriors pulled away from the Hornets with a decisive fourth quarter.
Brandin Podziemski bounced again from his worst recreation in weeks to log 19 factors and 10 rebounds and Steph Curry returned to his hometown with 21 factors and 10 dimes. The Warriors (33-28) by no means trailed Charlotte in a 119-101 victory on the primary finish of a back-to-back.
Podziemski briefly exited with a leg damage earlier than returning and Gary Payton II bought knocked out of the competition after colliding heads with LaMelo Ball. Draymond Inexperienced (team-best +20) picked up a flagrant and technical foul on the identical play as nicely.
For the primary time this season, the Warriors had three gamers document double-doubles — Curry, Podziemski and Inexperienced. Buddy Hield additionally chipped in a team-high 22 factors off the bench.
Jimmy Butler returned after lacking the 76ers recreation with again spasms, however he uncharacteristically struggled to prop up Golden State’s bench unit. Butler took solely seven photographs within the recreation, preferring to create for others.
When Curry exited within the first quarter, the Warriors led 24-12. Then Tidjane Salaun hit three 3-pointers towards Butler and the bench, a part of a 14-4 that reduce the result in two.
That the sport was ever so shut wasn’t a great signal for Golden State. They destroyed the Hornets, 128-92, per week in the past and Charlotte has the second-worst document within the league. There have been moments within the first quarter the place the Hornets had been hardly working again on protection.
The Warriors nonetheless had loads of choices to separate. The offense opened up with Curry on the ground, attracting Charlotte’s protection like a magnet.
Curry discovered Quinten Publish for an above-the-break 3 in a pick-and-pop as two defenders swarmed to him. Then Publish made an additional go to Buddy Hield for a 3 earlier than Curry drove and kicked to him once more for a second triple.
Curry dished 9 assists within the first half alone, sharing the ball as Charlotte swarmed to him. The Warriors assisted on 19 of their 21 made area targets, taking a 58-49 lead into halftime. The Warriors not named Steph Curry shot 6-for-23 (26%) from deep.
4 minutes into the second half, Podziemski bought up gimpy after sinking a floater within the lane. He exited and headed straight to the coaching room, grimacing and favoring his proper leg.
Podziemski had executed a strong job defensively on LaMelo Ball, persevering with the development of being as much as the duty as Golden State’s prime point-of-attack defender.
The Warriors wanted to play Gary Payton II extra to decelerate Ball with out Podziemski, however he shortly bought hit within the head whereas taking a cost on Ball.
After the officers missed a transparent touring name on Ball, Steve Kerr picked up a technical foul. At that time, Hield was making an attempt to chase him round because the Warriors clung to a six-point lead. Then Draymond Inexperienced bought assessed a flagrant foul for hanging Salaun within the neck on a box-out plus a technical.
Ball capped a seven-point possession with a one-legged 3. It could have been an eight-point journey if Ball made his technical free throw.
Podziemski returned to the sport late within the third and Hield nailed back-to-back 3s to push the Warriors’ lead again to double digits. Butler added a 3 earlier than Ball sank a step-back buzzer-beater over Hield and Podziemski.
The beginning of the fourth quarter was hazard time for the Warriors, with Curry on the bench. Towards the Sixers, Golden State chased the win by inserting him simply two minutes into the ultimate body.
Hield and Podziemski purchased Curry extra relaxation time with a slew of 3s. After Podziemski’s third 3 of the quarter, Curry stood up on the bench and waved a hand towel in celebration.
When Curry returned for the stretch run, the Warriors led by 16. They didn’t blow Charlotte out sufficient for him to take the fourth quarter off, however they weren’t precisely high-leverage minutes, both. He ought to nonetheless be recent for Tuesday night time in Madison Sq. Backyard.
