Warriors instant analysis: With Butler out, Golden State sets 3-point records against Hornets

SAN FRANCISCO — Playing without their second-best player at Chase Center on Saturday night, the Warriors looked to unexpected places for an offensive spark against the Hornets.

Jimmy Butler was a late scratch and replaced by rookie Will Richard in the starting lineup. The Warriors later announced that Butler, who scored 32 points against the Timberwolves on Thursday, was out for personal reasons. 

So obviously, the answer was to give Draymond Green and Brandin Podziemski, two players frequently maligned for shooting struggles, more shot attempts. Green scored 20 points while making four 3-pointers, while Podziemski poured in 16 off the bench in the Warriors’ 136-116 victory.

Even with one of their stars out, the Warriors had no problem dicing up an iffy Hornets defense.

The Warriors made 23 of 52 3-pointers. It marked the third consecutive game they have made at least 20 triples, a team record according to Warriors statistics expert Darryl Arata. They also became the first franchise to have at least 10 players make a 3-pointer in three consecutive games. 

Steph Curry had 14 points and De’Anthony Melton scored 24, while Richard put in 11 in the spot start. Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel combined for 52 points for Charlotte.  

Showing the kind of form that had helped the Warriors go 4-1 to start the ongoing 8-game homestand, they led 69-57 at halftime, with both Green and Podziemski scoring exactly 10 points. 

The Hornets, bringing All-Star guard LaMelo Ball off the bench, saw Miller and Knueppel lead the starting lineup. Meanwhile, Ball was aggressive but inefficient, shooting just 5 of 17 from the field. 

Melton helped spur the Warriors to a strong third-quarter finish by scoring 13 points, taking advantage of Charlotte’s pillow-soft perimeter defense to slice to the rim almost at will. Golden State led 112-94 after three quarters.

The Warriors (24-19) will face Miami on Monday. 

Buddy Hield’s impact

With Butler a late scratch, Jonathan Kuminga banished to the bench after his trade request and reserve forward Gui Santos also out with an ankle injury, the depleted Warriors had few options left on the wing. 

They dusted off Buddy Hield, who has been relegated to the role of healthy spectator for several weeks now, and asked him to play 18 minutes. The 32-year-old Bahamian made an immediate impact with his … defense?

The known marksman tied his career high for blocks in a game in the first quarter alone by swatting three shots. He ended up scoring 14 points and nabbing two steals in 18 productive minutes off the bench.  

Family reunion

Everywhere one looked at Chase Center on Saturday evening, they would see Curry:

On the court, where Steph had an effective if unspectacular night against his hometown team to the tune of 14 points. In the crowd, where his No. 30 jerseys were in abundance. On the injury report, where brother Seth sat with a sciatica diagnosis. And behind the microphone, where father Dell announced the game for the Hornets’ television broadcast. 

The Hornets recently announced that the organization will retire Dell’s No. 30 jersey on March 19. Steph, Kerr and Dell’s broadcast partner Eric Collins spoke over recent days about the honor.