ORACLE ARENA, OAKLAND, CA — The Charlotte Hornets (17-16) were in town to face the Golden State Warriors (31-2).
Stephen Curry started, despite a re-injury of a shin contusion which left him listed as “questionable” up until after pregame shootaround. Harrison Barnes also returned to the starting lineup, after suffering through an ankle sprain that was exacerbated by a bone bruise. Brandon Rush (hamstring) and Festus Ezeli (toe) were listed as “available” while Leandro Barbosa (shoulder) and Kevon Looney (hip rehab, assigned to D-League) were out.
The Hornets announced prior to the start of the game that Jeremy Lin would start in place of Nicolas Batum (toe sprain). Spencer Hawes was listed as “questionable” (low back tightness) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (right shoulder surgery) and Al Jefferson (right knee surgery) were out.
1st Quarter – Curry And Barnes Back, Klay Hot
Kemba Walker had a poor performance in Charlotte when the Warriors played the Hornets last, and he came back tonight with some determined play.
Walker made four of his first five shots on a step-back jumper to start the game and three drives to the hoop, the last a putback of a miss that resulted in an “and-one” as Curry reached in for a touch foul.
But Curry was on-point early, hitting his first triple, then brushing past Andrew Bogut for this reverse layup…
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…then capitalizing on this designed “elevators” play run from the left wing…
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…then a lefty drive past Walker that ended with a jump-stop and a righty scoop.
Klay Thompson also added a catch-and-shoot triple after a (possibly illegal) butt-screen:
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Green then found Curry open in the right corner. Steph gave a fake swing pass to Thompson, launched the three over Marvin Williams, but Green got the offensive rebound and found Rush wide open for a triple from the left wing.
. @BRush_25 joining in on the #SPLASH party!!! pic.twitter.com/njWqIWgNr3
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) January 5, 2016
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That put the Warriors up, 17-13, and Hornets head coach Steve Clifford took a timeout with 6:24 to go in the opening stanza.
After Klay blocked Walker…
.@KlayThompson with the SWAT! #NBAVote pic.twitter.com/oxaamfMMUV
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) January 5, 2016
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…Golden State closed out the quarter with a 10-0 run after Shaun Livingston came in when Curry picked up his second personal, another touch foul on Walker.
The run was sparked by a trail three from Green, who was left open by rookie Frank Kaminsky and a Klay trey.
With 2:11 remaining, Barnes checked in for Green and got a standing ovation from #Roaracle:
Reason number 5,421,367 why #Warriors fans are the best in the business: this welcome for @hbarnes. #DubNation pic.twitter.com/0t4Bo7cWl3
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) January 5, 2016
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After two jumpers by Marreese Speights, another three from Thompson, who scored 11 points in the period, and a putback by Speights on a slip cut by Barnes wherein he missed the contested layup, the Warriors sported a 32-24 lead at the end of the first.
2nd Quarter – Mo Buckets Returns
Barnes started the second frame nicely, hitting two pull-ups and a turnaround jumper while Ian Clark sprinkled in a three-pointer:
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But the Warriors’ bench unit wasn’t getting any stops either, and the Hornets hung around as Brian Roberts sandwiched a three by Williams and a Jeremy Lamb drive with two buckets.
Speights remained hot and got a fade-away to drop, and-one, after Curry checked back in, getting this touchdown pass from Green after Draymond got a blocked shot:
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After Roberts drilled a three, Curry added a contested three as well, but later got picked from behind by Roberts, who finished the clear undefended run-out with a soft two-hand dunk to make it 49-43, Warriors.
Curiously, Clifford took another timeout shortly thereafter.
After a Cody Zeller turnover after the timeout, Curry went “tic-tac-toe” to Bogut, who found Klay open on the left wing for an easy three, then Thompson added a one-legged turnaround baseline jumper, Clifford called a twenty-second timeout, and Golden State held a 54-43 lead with 4:25 to go.
Both teams traded a couple buckets, then Bogut tried to take a charge on Zeller, with no call, and Zeller’s shot was short, Green grabbed the board, attacked, got by two defenders in transition with a reverse between-the-legs dribble in stride, and lofted a lob to Bogut who ran with him down the floor, tipping the ball in for an alley-oop.
The Hornets made the next six points after that before Curry ended the half with a nice floater.
The Warriors took a 62-54 lead into halftime as Thompson led all scorers with 18 points on 6-for-11 field, 4-for-7 downtown. Curry was 6-for-9 from the field for 14 points, and Barnes was 3-for-5, Speights 4-for-4, a combined 19-for-31 for the four. Green finished the half with 5 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists.
(Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account via @sffitlife)
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