The energy at Chase Center was different tonight. You could feel it in the concourse before tip-off—a mix of high expectations and that weird mid-January "grind" mentality. Everyone wanted to know: what was the score to the warriors game tonight? If you missed the live action, the Golden State Warriors just wrapped up a wild one against the Charlotte Hornets, coming away with a 119-112 victory that was honestly a lot closer than the betting spread suggested.
Golden State entered the night as 6.5-point favorites. For about three quarters, it looked like they might cover that easily, but LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller had other plans. This wasn't just a routine win; it was a game defined by the Warriors' aging core trying to fend off a young, hungry Charlotte squad that refused to go away.
Breaking Down the Fourth Quarter Surge
The Warriors basically lived on the perimeter for the first half. Steph Curry was doing Steph things, but the real story was the secondary scoring. Jimmy Butler, who has become such a weirdly perfect fit in this system since joining, provided that veteran "edge" when the offense stalled.
Charlotte's Kon Knueppel—who is quickly becoming a problem for the rest of the league—kept hitting transition threes that silenced the San Francisco crowd. Every time the Warriors tried to pull away, Charlotte found a way back.
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- Final Score: Warriors 119, Hornets 112.
- Key Stat: Golden State outscored Charlotte 32-24 in the third, which proved to be the cushion they needed.
- The X-Factor: De'Anthony Melton’s defensive pressure in the final four minutes.
Honestly, the score doesn't tell the whole story of how sloppy the turnovers were. The Warriors finished with 16 giveaways. In the modern NBA, you usually lose games when you cough it up that much, but the Hornets couldn't capitalize on the fast break often enough to make it hurt.
Why the Warriors vs Hornets Score Matters Right Now
This win moves Golden State to 24-19 on the season. They’re sitting in that precarious middle-of-the-pack West seeding where every single night feels like a playoff game. If you're looking at the standings, this was a "must-win" simply because you can't drop home games to teams under .500 if you want to avoid the Play-In Tournament.
Steph finished with 28 points, which is almost exactly his season average of 28.1. It’s wild how we just expect greatness from him every single night. We've grown so accustomed to his 30-footers that a 28-point night feels "quiet."
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The Jimmy Butler Impact
Since the Warriors integrated Butler into the lineup, the defensive floor has risen significantly. He didn't explode for 40 tonight, but his 18 points and 7 assists kept the ball moving when the Hornets tried to double-team Curry at the logo.
Looking Ahead: The Brutal January Schedule
If you’re tracking the what was the score to the warriors game tonight query because you're worried about the playoff race, keep an eye on the next few days. The Warriors don't get much rest. They have a back-to-back coming up with the Heat and Raptors, followed by a tough road trip to Dallas and Minnesota.
Tonight was about survival. The Hornets are better than their 15-26 record suggests, especially with Miller playing like a future All-Star. But for now, Dub Nation can breathe a sigh of relief.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the team closely this week, here's what to watch for in the box scores:
- Free Throw Percentage: The Warriors have been hovering around 66% lately; they need to get back to the mid-70s to close out games more comfortably.
- Bench Depth: Watch Moses Moody’s minutes. If he’s getting 20+ minutes, it usually means Steve Kerr is looking for more defensive versatility.
- Injury Report: Keep a close eye on Draymond Green’s status for the Heat game, as his rim protection was clearly missed in certain stretches tonight.
The Warriors got the job done tonight, but the road doesn't get any easier from here.