Golden State Warriors Dominate Charlotte Hornets

When the news dropped right before tipoff that Jimmy Butler was a late scratch for “personal reasons,” a collective groan probably echoed across the Bay Area. We’ve seen this movie before. No Robin to Stephen Curry’s Batman usually means Curry has to drop 50 points, run a marathon around screens, and pray the defense doesn’t trap him at half-court every possession.

Despite missing the star forward, the Warriors didn’t just survive against the Charlotte Hornets; they absolutely thrived, cruising to a 136-116 victory that felt more like a shooting drill than a contested NBA game. If you were worried about the depth of this team, you can officially exhale.

De’Anthony Melton Is Playing Way Above His Pay Grade

We need to talk about De’Anthony Melton. The man is currently playing on a $3.1 million deal, which, in NBA money, is basically finding loose change in your couch cushions. But the way he played on Saturday? He looked like a guy worth ten times that amount.

With Butler out, the Warriors needed someone to create offense, and Melton raised his hand. He poured in a team-high 24 points off the bench, attacking the rim, hitting threes, and playing the kind of pesky defense that makes opposing guards lose sleep. He shot 50% from the field and looked completely comfortable running the show.

It’s becoming clear that Melton isn’t just a “nice pickup”—he’s vital. He finished with a plus/minus that suggests the team just functions better when he’s on the floor. If he keeps this up, the front office is going to have a very expensive headache next summer, but for now, Dub Nation is just enjoying the ride.

Draymond Green Reminds the League He Can Shoot

You have to laugh at how teams still defend Draymond Green. The scouting report has been the same for a decade: sag off, clutter the paint, and dare him to shoot. The Hornets tried that strategy, and Green made them pay. Dearly.

Green dropped 20 points, including going 4-of-8 from downtown. When he is hitting four triples in a game, the opponent is usually cooked. He looked confident, letting it fly without hesitation. It wasn’t just the scoring, though; he dished out assists and anchored the defense as usual.

He’s now shooting over 40% from deep on this homestand. If this is the new normal, the rest of the league has a serious geometry problem to solve.

The Bench Mob Makes History

The narrative all season has been about finding the right rotation, but maybe the answer is “just play everyone.” The Warriors’ bench erupted for 72 points. That is more than the starters scored (64).

It wasn’t just Melton. Brandin Podziemski looked like a seasoned vet, putting up 16 points, grabbing boards, and dishing assists. Buddy Hield, stepping into the rotation void left by Butler, chipped in 14 quick points. Even Al Horford got in on the fun with 11.

In fact, the team shooting was so contagious that the Warriors broke an NBA record. The Warriors became the first team in league history to have at least 10 players make a 3-pointer in three consecutive games. That is an absurd level of depth. It basically means that no matter who Steve Kerr points to on the bench, they are ready to step in and stretch the floor.

Will Richard Steps Up In the Spotlight

Kerr had to make a snap decision on who to start in Butler’s place, and he went with rookie Will Richard. He finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

More impressively, he was a plus-24 in his 31 minutes. He played active defense and didn’t try to do too much. It’s a luxury for a coach to throw a rookie into the starting lineup five minutes before game time and get that kind of production.

Steph Curry Gets a Night Off

Perhaps the best news for Golden State wasn’t the win itself, but how they got it. Stephen Curry only had to score 14 points. The Hornets sold out completely to stop him, blitzing him and trapping him 40 feet from the basket.

In years past, that strategy might have worked. The offense would stall, and Curry would be forced to force shots. Tonight? He happily acted as a decoy, moving the ball and watching his teammates feast on 4-on-3 advantages. He only took eight threes, making two, but his gravity opened up everything else for Melton, Green, and the rest of the squad.

The Warriors have now won 11 of their last 15 games. They are five games over .500 and finding a rhythm that looks dangerous. If they can blow teams out by 20 points without their second-best player and with their superstar having a quiet night, the ceiling for this group is higher than we thought.