With two teams in “back-to-back”, the start of the game is marked by a lot of awkwardness. The Hornets finished the first quarter with 25% shooting success, but Golden State's seven lost balls kept Charlotte in contact. It takes 11 points from the duo Klay Thompson (13 points) – Gary Payton II (12 points) off the bench to see the Warriors take the lead (22-15).
Both teams found a way to do worse in the second quarter, and Stephen Curry's mini awakening (15 points, 5 assists) put Golden State at +14 (43-29). If both teams regain skill after the break, the Warriors continue their domination. Brandin Podziemski (13 points, 6 assists) and Andrew Wiggins (14 points) put on the show and the gap reached 23 units (61-38). The surge from Brandon Miller (11 points) and Miles Bridges (19 points, 11 rebounds) allowed the Hornets to limit the damage before garbage time, but the Warriors easily cruised to a third victory in a row. The 11th in 13 matches!
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A basketball parody in the first half. The Warriors and the Hornets fought to see who would have the worst half. Golden State finished with 43 points on 38% shooting and 14 loose balls. Charlotte did even better… or rather worse: 29 points, the lowest total of points in a half in the NBA this season, 25% on shots, 12 lost balls! Both teams had almost as many baskets scored (27) as lost balls (26)!
– End of series for Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors. Jonathan Kuminga remained in 34 games in a row with ten points or more, he saw this great series, the longest of his young career, end last night (6 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, 2 interceptions). For the first time this season, the Warriors did not surpass the 100-point mark, and they also saw their streak of seven games with 30 or more assists come to an end. It was the longest such streak this season, tied with the Pacers.
– The Currys make history. This is obviously not the first time that the two Curry brothers, Stephen and Seth, face each other in an NBA game. However, this is the first time that their father Dell Curry, commentator for the local channel Bally Sports Southeast, was behind the microphone to comment on a match between his two boys. The transfer of Seth Curry to Charlotte two weeks ago allowed the Currys to achieve a historic first in the NBA.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
