SAN FRANCISCO – With Batman not on his game and Robin not in the building, the Warriors on Saturday night were forced to pin their hopes on their supporting cast.

The unplanned strategy worked like a charm, as the Warriors rolled to a tip-to-buzzer 136-116 win over the Charlotte Hornets before a sellout crowd (18,064) at Chase Center.

Eight different Warriors scored in double figures, led by De’Anthony Melton’s 24 points. Draymond Green added 20, Brandin Podziemski 16 and Stephen “Batman” Curry 14 as Golden State (24-19) is five games over .500 for the first time this season.

Jimmy “Robin” Butler III was a late scratch due to “personal reasons,” the Warriors announced shortly after tipoff.

Here are three observations from Golden State’s fifth win in six games and 11th in its last 15:

Covering for Jimmy

Because Butler was listed as a starter in the lineup issued by the Warriors shortly before tipoff, coach Steve Kerr had to make a snap decision on a replacement while also altering his rotation pattern.

Rookie Will Richard got the call and was highly effective, finishing with 11 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. He was plus-24 over 31 minutes.

With Butler typically designated to run the second unit, his absence forced considerable shuffling with rotations and personnel. Podziemski and Melton generally alternated at conducting the offense; they combined for 10 assists.

Podziemski’s 16 points came on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, including 3 of 6 from distance. He totaled seven assists and six rebounds.

Melton’s 24 points came on 8-of-16 shooting from the field, including 3 of 6 from deep. He had six rebounds and three assists.

No one inherited Butler’s regular rotation, in which he starts and finishes quarters but gets a few minutes’ rest in between.

Thriving with triples

The Warriors avoided their customarily slow start by racing out to leads of 14-5 and 29-19 to post a 39-28 advantage after one quarter.

How did they do it? The 3-ball was their friend. They shot 9 of 17 beyond the arc in the opening quarter. Ten different players splashed at least one shot from distance.

Golden State – aside from Curry – maintained high efficiency throughout most of the evening, finishing at 44.2 percent (23 of 52). The 23 triples were one off a season high.

Moody and Green led the bomb squad, each with four 3-pointers. Moody drained 4 of 6 to continue his recent torrid shooting and Green was 4 of 8.

Curry didn’t nail a triple until early in the third quarter and wound up shooting 2 of 8 from his specialty distance.

Don’t sleep on this bench

With Curry having a relatively quiet game and Butler nowhere in the building, it was imperative that the troops rally to fill the scoring void.

The team’s bench accepted the assignment and prospered, soaring beyond the 60-point barrier for the third time on this homestand.

The 72-point output topped the 64 points by the starters and represents a season high by Golden State’s bench this season, essential on a night when Curry and Butler combined for 14 points.

In addition to Melton and Podziemski, Buddy Hield – in the rotation because Butler was out – finished with 14 points in 18 minutes off the bench. Al Horford had 11.

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