CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Stephen Curry returned to his hometown roots with flair, scoring 21 points and delivering 10 assists as the Golden State Warriors emerged victorious over the Charlotte Hornets with a decisive 119-101 win on Monday night. This triumph marks their sixth victory in the past seven games.
Curry, originally from Charlotte and a product of nearby Davidson College, showcased his skills by making three 3-pointers, finishing 6 of 14 from the field. The Hornets, seemingly determined to curb Curry’s influence in the first half, resorted to double-teaming the 11-time All-Star heavily. Curry adeptly adapted, orchestrating plays and finding open teammates, which led to him having nine assists by halftime.
Adding to the Warriors’ offensive prowess, Buddy Hield contributed 22 points, while Brandin Podziemski tallied 19 points and snagged 10 rebounds. This performance followed their previous outing, a challenging 126-119 loss at Philadelphia on Saturday. Draymond Green also added a formidable presence with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
The Hornets continue to face difficulties, having lost 10 of their last 11 games, with a current seven-game losing streak. Leading the charge for Charlotte, Miles Bridges amassed 35 points, while LaMelo Ball posted 25 points and nine rebounds.
The game took an intense turn in the third quarter after a clash between Ball and Gary Payton II, resulting in Payton leaving the court due to a head injury. This was soon followed by Warriors coach Steve Kerr receiving a technical foul, and Green being charged with a flagrant-1 foul.
Charlotte’s bench, hampered by multiple injuries, struggled as they were outscored 45-21.
A crucial turning point arrived when Charlotte narrowed the Warriors’ lead to just three. However, Hield responded by sinking two consecutive 3-pointers, with Jimmy Butler adding another from the corner, re-establishing a double-digit lead.
Notably, Curry’s impressive streak of 29 consecutive free throws came to an end, as he missed two attempts from the line.
The Warriors are set to face the New York Knicks on Tuesday, while the Hornets will welcome Minnesota on Wednesday.
