Golden State Warriors 104 Final
Recap | Box Score
96 Charlotte Bobcats
David Lee, PF 35 MIN | 10-14 FG | 5-5 FT | 11 REB | 4 AST | 25 PTS | +4

Is there another power forward in the league playing as well as Lee right now? The lefty continued his exceedingly strong play offensively, scoring on three layups in the game’s opening minutes and setting the tone for a big night. Lee scored on jumpers, off the dribble, on tip-ins, and in transition tonight, exhibiting the skill and dexterity that make him such a tough cover. With he and Curry clicking like this, Golden State is tough to beat.

Harrison Barnes, SF 22 MIN | 2-7 FG | 1-2 FT | 3 REB | 3 AST | 6 PTS | +18

Barnes never found a rhythm tonight despite the close proximity to Tobacco road, looking unsure on offense for the game’s majority. To his credit he didn’t force things, knowing his teammates had it going. Still, he made one of the more impressive moves of his career in the first quarter, posting up Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and flipping a left-handed, running hook up and in.

Festus Ezeli, C 12 MIN | 1-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 2 PTS | +6

The rookie was quiet in limited minutes against the Bobcats. On nights when Lee and Landry prove especially effective and the opposition plays a center with deep shooting range, Ezeli will be hard-pressed for playing time.

Stephen Curry, PG 37 MIN | 10-22 FG | 3-4 FT | 7 REB | 7 AST | 27 PTS | +3

There’s no place like home. In arguably the most impressive performance of this awesome stretch, Curry did it all from the opening tip in his native North Carolina. He orchestrated the Warriors first quarter run with steals, rebounds, and relentless tempo, then saw the basket as his own personal ocean in the third quarter. Undaunted by an apparent knee injury suffered on Saturday, Curry was simply fantastic in all facets of the GS win.

Klay Thompson, SG 36 MIN | 4-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 6 AST | 10 PTS | +1

Thompson took a backseat to Curry in the scoring and shooting department, but nonetheless made his presence felt. Playing maybe his best floor game of the season, Thompson saw missed rotations and double teams all night long and consistently found his teammates for easy buckets. But most impressive was 3/4 length heave to Lee for a layup in the first quarter that would have made Jim Harbaugh proud.

Carl Landry, PF 28 MIN | 5-9 FG | 6-6 FT | 6 REB | 2 AST | 16 PTS | 0

Landry played the part of bystander for most part of the Warriors big first half, but proved typically invaluable in the third quarter. With the pesky Bobcats fighting to cut their deficit to single-digits, Landry scored eight consecutive points to keep Charlotte at bay and his team comfortably ahead. Showing off his versatile offensive game, he scored at the free throw line, on jumpers from 15-feet and out, and via acrobatic finishes in the paint.

Jarrett Jack, PG 31 MIN | 3-11 FG | 5-6 FT | 5 REB | 6 AST | 12 PTS | -4

Hyper aggressive from the opening tip, Jack wasn’t the model of efficiency he’s been for the most part this season. He managed to contribute in other ways, of course, stuffing the stat sheet on both ends of the floor and gamely defending Charlotte wings.

Two Things We Saw

  1. That the Warriors are good enough to build such big leads on the road – regardless of the opponent’s quality – is worthy of celebration. But like last week against Detroit and Washington, Golden State let the Bobcats hang around in this one for far too long. Learning to put teams away is a process that takes time, and it’s one the Warriors have clearly yet to master.
  2. Kent Bazemore saw rare early action in the game’s second quarter. Though he hardly made an impact and his stint was very brief, that Bazemore saw the floor in the first half at all could be an indicator of how much confidence Mark Jackson has in him. Known for his defensive prowess, it wouldn’t completely shock to see him on Wednesday against Miami.