SAN FRANCISCO \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Eight different Warriors scored in double figures, led by De\u2019Anthony Melton\u2019s 24 points. Draymond Green added 20, Brandin Podziemski 16 and Stephen \u201cBatman\u201d Curry 14 as Golden State (24-19) is five games over .500 for the first time this season.<\/p>\n
Jimmy \u201cRobin\u201d Butler III was a late scratch due to \u201cpersonal reasons,\u201d the Warriors announced shortly after tipoff.<\/p>\n
Here are three observations from Golden State\u2019s fifth win in six games and 11th in its last 15:<\/p>\n
Covering for Jimmy<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Podziemski\u2019s 16 points came on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, including 3 of 6 from distance. He totaled seven assists and six rebounds.<\/p>\n
Melton\u2019s 24 points came on 8-of-16 shooting from the field, including 3 of 6 from deep. He had six rebounds and three assists.<\/p>\n
No one inherited Butler\u2019s regular rotation, in which he starts and finishes quarters but gets a few minutes\u2019 rest in between.<\/p>\n
Thriving with triples<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Golden State \u2013 aside from Curry \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Curry didn\u2019t nail a triple until early in the third quarter and wound up shooting 2 of 8 from his specialty distance.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t sleep on this bench<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s bench accepted the assignment and prospered, soaring beyond the 60-point barrier for the third time on this homestand.<\/p>\n
The 72-point output topped the 64 points by the starters and represents a season high by Golden State\u2019s bench this season, essential on a night when Curry and Butler combined for 14 points.<\/p>\n
In addition to Melton and Podziemski, Buddy Hield \u2013 in the rotation because Butler was out \u2013 finished with 14 points in 18 minutes off the bench. Al Horford had 11.<\/p>\n