Buddy Hield scored 19 points, and the Golden State Warriors snapped a two-game skid with a 107-104 win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. The Warriors built an 18-point lead but had to survive a late Pistons rally, as Malik Beasley’s missed 3-pointer at the buzzer narrowly avoided sending the game to overtime.
The win was a relief for Golden State, which had suffered two blowout losses at home earlier in the week—falling by 16 to Miami and 30 to Sacramento. Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who lost his childhood home in California wildfires, had challenged his team’s competitive spirit, and the Warriors responded in Detroit.
Stephen Curry struggled from the field, finishing with 17 points on 5-of-21 shooting and missing 12 of 14 attempts from beyond the arc. However, Golden State’s role players stepped up in the absence of Andrew Wiggins (personal reasons). Trayce Jackson-Davis recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Dennis Schroder, Gui Santos, and Lindy Waters combined for 37 points.
The Pistons, who had won five straight and eight of their last nine, fell to .500. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 32 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, while Beasley added 21 points despite shooting just 4-of-14 from deep. Tobias Harris and rookie Ron Holland chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively, as Detroit tried to make up for the absence of Jaden Ivey (broken leg).
Draymond Green delivered a pivotal sequence in the fourth quarter, exchanging words with Holland before dunking, drawing a charge against the rookie, and setting up Hield for a 3-pointer to push Golden State’s lead to 92-78.
The Pistons clawed back late, but the Warriors held firm, earning just their seventh win in 22 games after a 12-3 start to the season. Let’s grade the Warriors players for their performances on Thursday night.Â
Buddy Hield: B
Stats: 19 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 7-15 FG, 5-11 3PT, 0-0 FT, 0, 32 MIN
Hield led the Warriors in scoring with 19 points, hitting 5-of-11 from deep and adding 5 rebounds and 3 assists. While he didn’t get to the free-throw line or make a significant defensive impact, his shooting stretched the floor and kept the offense humming. His ability to hit timely threes helped Golden State hold off Detroit’s late surge, though his neutral plus-minus suggests limited influence on the game’s outcome.
Trayce Jackson-Davis: B
Stats: 14 PTS, 10 REB (2 OREB, 8 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 7-9 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-2 FT, +16, 26 MIN
Jackson-Davis was a steady presence inside, contributing a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. His efficiency (7-of-9 FG) and +16 plus-minus highlighted his positive impact, as he provided a solid interior presence on both ends. However, his lack of free-throw accuracy (0-for-2) and absence of defensive stats kept his grade from being higher.
Stephen Curry: B-
Stats: 17 PTS, 10 REB (2 OREB, 8 DREB), 6 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 0 PF, 5-21 FG, 2-14 3PT, 5-5 FT, -14, 36 MIN
Curry struggled with his shot, going 5-of-21 from the field and just 2-of-14 from three. Despite his scoring woes, he made other contributions, grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing 6 assists, and recording 2 steals. However, his inefficiency and -14 plus-minus reflect a rough night overall, saved only by his perfect 5-of-5 free-throw shooting and leadership in critical moments.
Dennis Schroder: B-
Stats: 13 PTS, 0 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 5 PF, 5-11 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2-2 FT, +7, 35 MIN
Schroder added 13 points and 6 assists in 35 minutes, providing steady playmaking. His shooting was inconsistent (5-of-11 FG, 1-of-5 3PT), and his 5 personal fouls limited his aggressiveness on defense. Despite these issues, his ability to run the offense and maintain control during key stretches earned him a respectable grade.
Gui Santos: B-
Stats: 13 PTS, 5 REB (3 OREB, 2 DREB), 3 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 3 PF, 4-6 FG, 4-6 3PT, 1-2 FT, +7, 26 MIN
Santos scored 13 points off the bench, shooting efficiently (4-of-6 FG, 4-of-6 3PT). His 5 rebounds and 3 assists were helpful, though his 4 turnovers and 3 personal fouls hinted at some lapses. His +7 plus-minus reflects his value in contributing to the team’s success, particularly with his sharp shooting from long range.
Lindy Waters III: B-
Stats: 11 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 4-8 FG, 3-7 3PT, 0-0 FT, +6, 19 MIN
Waters contributed 11 points in 19 minutes, hitting 3-of-7 from three. While his overall stat line was modest, his +6 plus-minus and ability to space the floor provided a boost off the bench. His lone block and low turnover count also added to a solid, though not spectacular, performance.
Kevon Looney: B-
Stats: 8 PTS, 8 REB (3 OREB, 5 DREB), 3 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 4-6 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-1 FT, -14, 21 MIN
Looney was reliable as usual, scoring 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting and pulling down 8 rebounds, including 3 offensive boards. He also added 3 assists, 2 steals, and a block. Despite his defensive contributions, his -14 plus-minus indicated struggles during his minutes, likely tied to team defensive lapses.
Draymond Green: C+
Stats: 7 PTS, 5 REB (2 OREB, 3 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 3 BLK, 4 TO, 4 PF, 3-9 FG, 0-3 3PT, 1-2 FT, -2, 32 MIN
Green’s night was a mix of impactful moments and mistakes. He scored 7 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and had 4 assists, along with 3 blocks. However, his 4 turnovers and 4 fouls limited his effectiveness, and his -2 plus-minus reflected an inconsistent game. Green’s pivotal fourth-quarter plays against Ron Holland helped maintain momentum, but overall, his performance was uneven.
Kyle Anderson: N/A
Stats: 4 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB, 2 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 2-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +7, 9 MIN
Anderson played just 9 minutes but was efficient in his limited time, scoring 4 points on 2-of-4 shooting while adding 4 rebounds and 3 assists. His +7 plus-minus highlights his solid impact, though his brief stint on the court limits his overall evaluation.
Pat Spencer: N/A
Stats: 1 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, +2, 4 MIN
Spencer only played 4 minutes, contributing 1 point and 1 assist. His +2 plus-minus indicates he didn’t hurt the team during his brief appearance, but his limited playing time makes it difficult to fully assess his performance.
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