Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
The Golden State Warriors honored the 10th anniversary of their 2014-15 championship team Tuesday night at Chase Center.
Then they finished their fourth straight win – and sixth in seven games with Jimmy Butler.
The Warriors cruised to a 128-92 victory – their 3,000th as a franchise, becoming the fifth NBA franchise with that many – over the woeful Charlotte Hornets, welcoming at halftime to center court 2014-15 champions Marreese Speights, Brandon Rush and Festus Ezeli and unsheathing the 2014-15 Larry O’ Brien trophy.
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A short highlight reel played on the scoreboard with scenes from the 2014-15 season.
The beatdown resumed a few minutes later.
Buddy Hield came off the bench to score a team-high 16 for the Warriors, who got 15 points apiece from fellow champions Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Playing the Hornets absent star guard LaMelo Ball and standout wing Brandon Miller – among others – the Warriors (31-27) turned to their swarming defense to key a 23-4 first-half run. On-ball defense was buoyed by help that forced the Hornets into 12 first-half turnovers that Golden State turned into 21 points and a 56-41 halftime lead.
Gary Payton II came off the bench to score 11 of his 14 points in the first half. Moses Moody beat the first-half buzzer with a corner 3-pointer to frenzy the crowd.
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Charlotte shot 32.6%, informing its 37.1% shooting en route to 25 turnovers the Warriors turned into 37 points.
The second half continued the first with the Warriors overmatching the hapless Hornets, who boast the NBA’s second-worst record and second-worst offensive rating.
A 26-8 burst positioned Golden State with a 33-point advantage late in the third quarter as rhythmic passes, screens and cuts created open jumpers and uncontested layups. Curry was showered with “MVP” chants while shooting a free throw for a technical foul. He watched the fourth quarter from the bench with Green.
KJ Simpson led Hornets (14-43) with 16 points while Curry’s brother, Seth, added 14 points.
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The Warriors begin a five-game trip Thursday against the Orlando Magic.
Reach Sam Gordon: [email protected]
