While four threes in the first quarter from LaMelo Ball were far from ideal for the Warriors, at the end of the day, they shot themselves in the foot with their turnovers. The Warriors turned the ball over 15 times and gifted the Hornets 17 points off those turnovers.
While it’s not a huge margin, the Hornets were +6 in points off turnovers and won the game by just four. This needs to be a lesson for the Warriors that, when they aren’t shooting well, they must take care of the ball.
The Golden State Warriors lost their second game of the season as they took to the road and played the LaMelo Ball-led Charlotte Hornets.
Of the Warriors’ 15 turnovers in the game, 3 came in the fourth quarter. It was a gritty fourth quarter in which the Dubs totaled just 14 points, less than half what they scored in the second and third quarter, totaling 30 in the second and 31 in the third.
With Curry on the floor for much of the quarter, it was a disappointing finish. Yes, the Hornets are a capable opponent and one that matches up well with Golden State considering their solid backcourt play.
However, the Warriors defeated the Hornets by 22 at home a week and a half ago.
They should’ve come out on top in this one. But, to be fair, a small silver lining could be that this team will eventually need to figure out how to play close, hard-fought games. They’ve been blowing teams out lately.
That said, not turning the ball over will be crucial in the future and cannot continue to be their Achilles heel.
There are going to be far too many instances in which the ball just won’t fall that these added mistakes will cost them dearly. Turnovers almost cost them the game against the Clippers earlier in the season.
As for the breakdown, Curry, Draymond Green, and Jordan Poole all had three each. Kevon Looney, Andre Iguodala, Damion Lee, and Otto Porter Jr. had one each as well with Nemanja Bjelica losing the ball twice.
Lee, Porter Jr., and Bjelica combined for just over 40 minutes and four turnovers.
It’ll be a full team effort to cut down on these turnovers, and while 15 isn’t too discouraging, it would still put them in the bottom half of the league if it were their average. Sadly, this was under their average and still too costly in this one.