The Warriors tip off their February schedule with a matchup against the visiting Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
Warriors vs. HornetsWednesday, Feb. 17:30 p.m.Oracle Arena
TV: CSN Bay Area
RADIO: 95.7 The Game, Warriors Radio Network
HELLO FEBRUARY
After going 12-2 in January, the Warriors open up a new month of play against the visiting Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. This will be the second and final matchup between the two teams this season after Golden State prevailed 113-103 in their first encounter last week. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Watch the action on CSN Bay Area, or listen to the call on 95.7 The Game and the Warriors Radio Network.
LAST TIME OUT
Klay Thompson scored nine of his 27 points in the final 37 seconds to help the Warriors escape with a 113-111 victory in Portland on Sunday night. Full Recap
MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
GSW
41-7
1st in West
118.0 PPG (1st)
45.2 RPG (5th)
31.0 APG (1st)
CHA
23-26
8th in East
105.1 PPG (16th)
45.2 RPG (6th)
23.3 APG (10th)
PROJECTED STARTERS
GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia
CHA: Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marvin Williams and Roy Hibbert
INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: Stephen Curry (stomach flu) is available to play. Zaza Pachulia (right rotator cuff strain) and David West (non-displaced fracture, left thumb) is out. Team Notes
CHA: Cody Zeller (quad contusion) is out. Team Notes
ANY WAY THEY COME
Regardless of the margin of victory, the Warriors will take wins however they come, and they continue to prove they can win games in a variety of ways. Sunday’s victory in Portland saw the Dubs nearly blow a 21-point lead before fending off the Trail Blazers down the stretch with some clutch play. Just one night earlier, Golden State beat the Clippers by 46 points, their third 40-point victory of the season. That ties the NBA single-season record for 40-point victories, and the Warriors still have 34 games remaining on their regular season schedule. Obviously the runaway victories aren’t as stress-provoking, but the grind-it-out wins are considerably valuable experience, given the fact that come the postseason, those games are likely to be decidedly closer. It’s advantageous to learn how to win those tight games now, and be better prepared come playoff time.
TEAM LEADERS
GSW
PTS: Durant (26.3)
REB: Durant (8.4)
AST: Green (7.4)
CHA
PTS: Walker (23.3)
REB: Kidd-Gilchrist (7.4)
AST: Batum (6.0)
CHARLOTTE SCOUTING REPORT
The Hornets have been about as streaky as any team in the league this season. They’ve lost five in a row, and that stretch comes on the heels of three-straight wins, which in turn, followed a five-game losing streak. Defense has been the issue as of late, as Charlotte has allowed 8.5 more points per 100 possessions during their current losing streak than their season average. Despite holding Golden State to 113 points in their first encounter, five full points below the Dubs’ league-best scoring average, the Warriors still managed to come out of that game with a victory. With the Hornets on the back end of a back-to-back and Golden State not having played since Sunday, look for the Warriors to try to push the pace on Wednesday night to come away with the season series sweep.