The Golden State Warriors reached a historic milestone in dominant fashion Tuesday night, cruising past the Charlotte Hornets 128-92 for the franchise’s 3,000th victory. With the win, Golden State became just the fifth NBA team to achieve the feat, joining the Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, and 76ers.
Stephen Curry and Draymond Green each scored 15 points, while Buddy Hield led the team with 16 off the bench as the Warriors continued their surge, winning their fourth straight and sixth in seven games to climb into the eighth spot in the Western Conference. Curry struggled from deep (2 of 9 from three), but it mattered little against a depleted Hornets squad missing LaMelo Ball.
The Warriors’ defense forced 24 turnovers, converting them into 37 points, and a dominant third quarter—where they exploded for 41 points—sealed the victory. The night also featured a special halftime ceremony celebrating the 10th anniversary of Golden State’s 2014-15 championship team, adding to the electric atmosphere.
With the arrival of Jimmy Butler injecting new energy into the squad, the Warriors are looking more and more like a serious playoff contender. Let’s provide a grade for every Warriors player for his performance on Tuesday night.
Draymond Green: B+
Stats: 15 PTS, 6 REB (1 OREB, 5 DREB), 6 AST, 3 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 6-12 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2-2 FT, +14, 23 MIN
Green played an all-around game in the Warriors’ historic win, contributing 15 points, six rebounds, six assists, three steals, and two blocks. He was an essential playmaker, distributing the ball efficiently and contributing to the Warriors’ defensive dominance, helping them force 24 turnovers. His shooting (6-of-12 from the field) was efficient, although he struggled from three (1-of-5). Green’s leadership and versatility were on full display in this one, playing a key role in both the offensive and defensive efforts.
Buddy Hield: B
Stats: 16 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PF, 6-11 FG, 4-9 3PT, 0-1 FT, +17, 20 MIN
Hield was a key contributor off the bench, leading the Warriors in scoring with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting. He was particularly effective from three-point range, hitting four of his nine attempts. Hield also added two steals and a rebound, making him a valuable asset during his 20 minutes of play. His scoring was crucial for the Warriors in maintaining their offensive firepower, and his +17 plus-minus highlighted his strong presence during his stint on the court.
Gary Payton II: B
Stats: 14 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 6-9 FG, 2-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +11, 14 MIN
Payton had a solid performance, scoring 14 points in just 14 minutes. He was highly efficient, shooting 6-of-9 from the field, including 2-of-2 from three. Payton also contributed four assists and added a steal, bringing energy and playmaking to the Warriors’ second unit. His impact was felt immediately, and his +11 plus-minus reflected the team’s success with him on the court.
Moses Moody: B-
Stats: 13 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 4-5 FG, 3-3 3PT, 2-2 FT, +25, 23 MIN
Moody provided a strong offensive spark off the bench, scoring 13 points on a perfect 4-of-5 shooting, including 3-of-3 from deep. He showed excellent efficiency and made the most of his 23 minutes, contributing in a variety of ways without turning the ball over. His performance helped sustain the Warriors’ offensive momentum, especially in the second half. Moody’s defensive impact wasn’t significant, but his ability to knock down shots at such a high clip was crucial in helping extend the lead.
Kevin Knox II: B-
Stats: 12 PTS, 5 REB (2 OREB, 3 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 4-7 FG, 2-4 3PT, 2-2 FT, +5, 15 MIN
Knox had a solid outing with 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists in 15 minutes. He was efficient from the field (4-of-7) and showed versatility by contributing in multiple areas, including two blocks and a steal. While his shooting from beyond the arc (2-of-4) was a plus, his overall impact was subdued, and his defensive contributions were not particularly noticeable. However, he made the most of his playing time and was productive when on the court.
Stephen Curry: B-
Stats: 15 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 6 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 6-14 FG, 2-9 3PT, 1-1 FT, +26, 24 MIN
Curry had an off-shooting night, scoring 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting and hitting only 2-of-9 from three. Despite his struggles from deep, he managed to contribute in other areas, posting six assists and a steal. Curry’s ability to impact the game even when not scoring efficiently is one of his trademarks, and his +26 plus-minus shows that the Warriors outperformed the Hornets with him on the floor. Still, this was far from his best showing, and he will likely be looking to improve his shooting moving forward.
Jimmy Butler III: C+
Stats: 6 PTS, 8 REB (2 OREB, 6 DREB), 5 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 3-8 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-1 FT, +17, 19 MIN
Butler had a solid but unspectacular performance, finishing with six points, eight rebounds, and five assists in just 19 minutes. While he contributed in other areas, including a steal, his shooting (3-of-8) and lack of aggression on offense left much to be desired. Despite his struggles on offense, he remained active defensively and helped facilitate the Warriors’ offense. His +17 plus-minus suggests that he made positive contributions when on the floor, but he didn’t impose himself on the game.
Brandin Podziemski: C+
Stats: 10 PTS, 5 REB (0 OREB, 5 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 4-6 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-2 FT, +24, 25 MIN
Podziemski chipped in 10 points and five rebounds, along with two assists, in 25 minutes of play. He was efficient, shooting 4-of-6 from the field, although he struggled a bit from deep, making just 1-of-4 three-pointers. He displayed solid court awareness, contributing in several areas, but didn’t make a major impact on either end of the floor. His +24 plus-minus reflected the Warriors’ overall success when he was on the court, though he could have been more assertive in his offensive role.
Quinten Post: C+
Stats: 8 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 3-8 FG, 1-4 3PT, 1-2 FT, +6, 18 MIN
Post contributed eight points, three rebounds, and two assists in 18 minutes. He was active defensively, recording two steals, but his shooting (3-of-8) and three-point shooting (1-of-4) were not as efficient as he would have liked. Post’s energy was evident, but he struggled to be consistent in both scoring and defending. His +6 plus-minus reflected that the Warriors performed well with him on the floor, but he didn’t stand out in any one area.
Gui Santos: C+
Stats: 3 PTS, 5 REB (3 OREB, 2 DREB), 6 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 1-5 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-1 FT, +17, 19 MIN
Santos played 19 minutes, finishing with three points, five rebounds, and six assists. His shooting was poor (1-of-5 from the field and 0-of-2 from three), but he made up for it with his playmaking and defensive effort, adding two steals. His +17 plus-minus indicated that the Warriors were successful with him on the floor, even if his individual numbers were underwhelming. Santos showed some flashes of potential but didn’t fully capitalize on his opportunity.
Kevon Looney: C
Stats: 4 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 1-3 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT, +18, 13 MIN
Looney had a quiet night offensively, finishing with just four points and three rebounds in 13 minutes. He was efficient with his shot (1-of-3) but didn’t play a major role in the Warriors’ dominant win. However, his presence on the glass and as a rim protector was felt, and his defense helped the Warriors limit Charlotte’s second-chance opportunities. Looney was on the floor for positive stretches, as evidenced by his +18 plus-minus, but his contributions were relatively modest.
Jackson Rowe: N/A
Stats: 6 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 2-3 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT, +2, 8 MIN
Rowe played only eight minutes, scoring six points on 2-of-3 shooting. He made a positive impact in a short amount of time, adding a rebound and a steal. While his minutes were limited, his energy on the court seemed to lift the team, as evidenced by his +2 plus-minus. It was a brief but efficient outing for Rowe in his limited role.
Pat Spencer: N/A
Stats: 6 PTS, 5 REB (4 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 3-9 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, -1, 10 MIN
Spencer scored six points and grabbed five rebounds in 10 minutes, but he wasn’t highly efficient, shooting just 3-of-9 from the field and missing both of his three-point attempts. While he contributed in the rebounding department and added a couple of assists, his lack of scoring efficiency and relatively quiet presence on the floor made it difficult to evaluate his impact on the game.
Yuri Collins: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -1, 10 MIN
Collins played 10 minutes but didn’t contribute much statistically, with no points and just one rebound and one assist. While he showed some effort defensively with a steal, his minimal impact on the game and lack of shot attempts made it hard for him to leave a mark.
