Preview: Warriors look to crush shorthanded Hornets in Chase Center

The suddenly hot Warriors look to win their fourth game in a row.

Remember when the Warriors used to treat non-contenders like unwelcome houseguests, showing them around the premises for about a quarter and a half before firmly, but politely, pointing them toward the exit? Well Dub Nation, that Warriors team might just be back on the menu.

Tonight’s matchup with the Charlotte Hornets has all the makings of one of those vintage third-quarter-and-it’s-over Warriors performances we grew accustomed to during the dynasty years. The Hornets stagger into Chase Center like a wounded animal after losing their last two games by a combined 95 points.

Golden State Warriors vs Charlotte Hornets

When: February 25th, 2024 | 7:00 PM PT

TV: NBC Sports Bay Area

Radio: 95.7 The Game

Meanwhile, the Warriors are experiencing a basketball renaissance since adding Jimmy Butler to the roster. It’s like watching someone finally solve a Rubik’s Cube after fiddling with it for months. Suddenly, all the colors are aligning, with Golden State going undefeated since Butler’s arrival while their offensive rating has skyrocketed from 112.2 points per game to a blistering 128.5.

And it’s not just that the Warriors are winning; it’s HOW they’re winning. The Curry-Butler pairing has unlocked something that feels eerily reminiscent of the Durant-era Warriors: a team that can beat you inside, outside, in transition, in the half-court—basically anywhere on the 94 feet of hardwood where basketball happens to be played.

Butler’s ability to draw fouls has given the Warriors the kind of counterpunch they’ve desperately needed when teams overplay Curry. As Steph himself diplomatically noted about the partnership: “There’s a definite correlation,” which is Curry-speak for “having someone who can actually attack the rim makes my life significantly easier.”

The timing couldn’t be worse for the Hornets, who will be without LaMelo Ball (ankle management) tonight. For Charlotte, this game is the basketball equivalent of showing up to a gunfight armed with a particularly stern glare. They’re missing key players, their offensive engine is sputtering (scoring exactly 88 points in each of their last two games), and they’re facing a Warriors team that’s rediscovered their joy with a new running mate for Curry who already feels like he’s been there for years.

The betting line opened with Golden State as 17.5-point favorites, which would have seemed excessive a month ago. Now? It almost feels conservative. This has all the makings of one of those games where the Warriors’ lead hits 20+ before halftime, Curry starts doing his shimmy after heat-check threes, and the fourth quarter becomes extended garbage time where Warriors fans get to watch rookies and bench players while sipping their second beer.

After years of wondering if the Warriors dynasty was truly over, these last few games have started to feel like a basketball time machine. The offense is humming, the defense is locked in, and most importantly, that sense of inevitability—the feeling that no matter what the opponent tries, the Warriors will eventually break their spirit with a devastating run—has returned to Chase Center.

Expect the Dubs to treat this game like a statement, not just to the Hornets but to the entire Western Conference: The Golden Empire is back in business, and business is booming.