Warriors instant analysis: Curry, Butler’s big games wasted against new-look Hawks

SAN FRANCISCO – Steph Curry flew around the court and buried improbable, high arcing 3-pointers. Jimmy Butler used his smarts and muscle to carve out space for tricky shots and deft passes. And every other Warrior did …. not much else on Sunday evening at Chase Center. 

Curry scored 31 and Butler poured in 30, but De’Anthony Melton (10) was the only other Warrior in double-figures as the Hawks beat the home team 124-11.

The Warriors entered Sunday as one of the league’s hottest teams, having won 8 of their last 11, two of those losses being in overtime and by one point respectively. 

The Warriors winning run was defined by low turnover numbers, forcing giveaways of the and an offense that averaged over 120 points over its last five games. But against the Hawks, the Warriors relapsed into old habits.

The Warriors had 15 turnovers but forced only 8, thus wasting big nights from their two offensive stars. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 24 and Jalen Johnson put up a 22-point double-double as the Hawks debuted new additions CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. The Hawks traded for both in the trade deal that sent longtime star guard Trae Young to the Wizards.

That momentum was not felt early on, as neither the crowd – many wearing 49ers jerseys and celebrating the team’s playoff victory – nor the players had much verve to begin. 

The Warriors cut the Hawks 70-58 third quarter lead to just two points during a 10-0 run that spanned just 1:12 and was capped by a Curry triple from the wing. The Hawks, boosted by two Luke Kennard triples, responded with a 22-5 run of their own. 

Seeking a boost down 87-73, Steve Kerr inserted the seldom-used Buddy Hield into the game with two minutes remaining in the third. Nothing could spark a comeback though as the Hawks went up by as many as 25 in the fourth quarter and salted away the victory. 

Golden State (21-19) will play host to Portland — with a rare 8 p.m. tipoff time — on Tuesday.

DPoY Duel

Matchups between top scorers are often lauded as the game’s premier matchups, but for those who appreciate the other side of the ball, Sunday’s game provided just as much entertainment. 

Last season Dyson Daniels finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while Draymond Green placed third. Daniels is a perimeter defender and Green guards frontcourt players, and both are arguably the best in their respective roles. 

Green and Daniels each had a block, but surprisingly, the Hawks wing did not have a single steal. Daniels led the league in takeaways with 3.0 per game last season, and is still averaging a healthy 2.0 this year. 

Al Horford faces first team

One benefit of the Warriors’ extended homestand and their lack of back-to-backs is that it allows Al Horford to play each game and establish a rhythm. Coming off the bench for his fourth consecutive game, Horford responded with five points, eight rebounds and two assists in just 16 minutes. 

To a newer generation of NBA fans, Horford is associated with the Celtics, the team he won the 2024 NBA title with. But he established himself as a bonafide playmaker with Atlanta, making the all star team four times in nine seasons. 

Horford was selected No. 3 overall in the 2007 Draft, and scored 8,288 points in Atlanta, the 14th-most in franchise history.