The Warriors went into their current road trip playing some of their best basketball of 2019; now, after four games into the trip, the team is 0-4 after a 106-91 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
Even with the team being understaffed with injuries and inexperience, the Warriors have played tough against favored teams. However, on their current road swing, that grit has faded, and the Warriors have looked like the team their 4-19 record reflects.
The Warriors were able to grab a lead in the third quarter in Charlotte, but things flipped when Draymond Green and D’Angelo Russell left the floor. The third period ended with the Hornets leading by 10, and the Warriors could never claw back their way back.
The Warriors backcourt couldn’t hang with Charlotte’s duo of Devonte’ Graham and Terry Rozier. The Buzz City pairing combined for 58 of the Hornets 106 points. Rozier and Graham added 17 assists, 14 rebounds, and five steals to their dominant combined performance.
D’Angelo Russell Returns
The Warriors got another All-Star back from injury with the return of D’Angelo Russell after he missed nine games with a sprained right thumb. Russell led the Warriors in scoring with 18 points, with 13 coming in the second quarter.
Russell was a minute restriction and only played 25 minutes in his first game back. The Warriors will continue to be patient with their 23-year-old guard as he builds up his conditioning and rhythm.
D'Angelo Russell with a very Steph Curry-like 3 pic.twitter.com/ImmSc7aRBI
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) December 5, 2019
Career night for Devonte’ Graham
The former second-round pick, Devonte’ Graham knocked down a career-high 10-three pointers against the Warriors, suitable for a game-high 33 points. The Warriors had no answer for Graham, who was just off completing a triple-double with nine assists and career-high seven rebounds. The Kansas Jayhawk product is having a stellar season in year two of NBA action, adding another impressive performance in his breakout campaign, this time against Golden State.
Devonte' Graham WENT OFF for 33 points on TEN three-point makes in the Hornets win over Golden State.#AllFLy pic.twitter.com/hAEESNZ0az
— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) December 5, 2019