With Draymond Green listed as questionable on the injury report, DeMarcus Cousins acknowledging issues with his confidence and Stephen Curry making only five shots, the Warriors were ripe to be upset by the Hornets on Monday.
If that weren’t enough, the defending champions committed 15 turnovers, gifting 20 points.
The Warriors, however, found a way to win. It wasn’t always comfortable but it also never felt particularly perilous.
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SIGN UP HERE Here are some of the positives and negatives from a 121-110 victory in Charlotte:
POSITIVE
Keeping it moving
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The Warriors recorded 35 assists, 21 in the first half. Each starter had at least three, which help explain why not one of the five scored more than 26 points or less than 14. Shaun Livingston had four in 14 minutes off the bench.
When none of the shooters is ridiculously hot, moving the rock seems to be the logical path to success, and the Warriors followed it.
POSITIVE
Boogie’s Night
Cousins needed a bounce-back game and got it. Playing a season-high 31 minutes, he produced a season-high 24 points (9-of-15 from the field), 11 rebounds and three blocks. He was plus-10, a stark contrast to the minus-17 he posted Saturday against Houston. The worst moment came when he was whistled for a technical foul for tossing a shoe off the court.
The technical foul was rescinded Tuesday by the NBA, so Boogie’s week is off to a tremendous start.
POSITIVE
Draymond thrives amid discomfort
For someone who was in severe pain Saturday night and was questionable six hours before tipoff, Green showed zero ill effects from the left ankle sprain sustained 48 hours earlier. He was hyperactive and approached his first triple-double of the season: 14 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. He also had three blocks.
Do not question his toughness and hoped to be treated with the potion that allowed him to flourish.
NEGATIVE
Curry’s failure to cook
Curry looks forward to every trip to his hometown and generally plays well; he entered with an average of 30.4 points against the Hornets. This was, however, not his night. His first field goal didn’t come until 5:33 remained in the first half. He shot 27.8 percent, his lowest since Jan. 21.
The law of averages wins again. The Hornets come to Oracle Arena on March 31
POSITIVE
KD’s new old tool
The sickest move of the night belonged to Kevin Durant, who closed the first quarter with a barely describable shot, a half-crossover, part-“hesi,” step-back 3-pointer that destroyed Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Fairly unimpressed with himself, Durant claims to have had the move since he was 10. It’s indefensible.
Whatever. It’s indefensible. We’ve never seen it and the same can be said of many others. Durant’s toolbox obviously has many compartments.