Warriors vs. Hornets Preview & Prediction

The Golden State Warriors are looking to improve to 20-0 and extend their NBA record start to the season with yet another win, this time against the Charlotte Hornets in the second of a seven-game road trip.. Will the Hornets be the first team to defeat the Warriors this season? Check out our preview & prediction below:

Game Info:

Location: Time Warner Cable Arena - Charlotte, NC
Time: 7:00 pm ET
TV: CSN Bay Area, Fox Sports Southeast
Spread: Warriors By 9

Projected Starting Lineups:

Golden State Warriors (19-0)

PG Stephen Curry - 31.6 ppg, 6.0 apg, 2.5 spg
SG Klay Thompson - 16.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg
SF Brandon Rush - 3.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg
PF Draymond Green - 13.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 7.1 apg
C Andrew Bogut - 6.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg

Charlotte Hornets (10-7)

PG Kemba Walker - 18.4 ppg, 5.0 apg
SG P.J. Hairston - 4.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg
SF Nicolas Batum - 16.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.5 apg
PF Marvin Williams - 10.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg
C Cody Zeller - 6.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg

Key To The Game:

Can Charlotte's staters keep the Hornets in the game enough for their bench to take over? Charlotte has perhaps the best bench unit in the NBA, headlined by the play of Jeremy Lamb and Jeremy Lin, and that's been the positive difference for the Hornets in many close games this year. However, if Charlotte's going to have any kind of a shot in this one, their starters - without star center Al Jefferson - are going to have to find some way to go blow-for-blow with Golden State. That's a tall task, but their bench has what it takes to win this game if their starters play well.

What They're Saying About The Golden State Warriors: 

Luke Walton Influence Makes Him Crucial To Warriors Future

Why The Warriors Will Win 34 Straight | Warriors Huddle Podcast

The Golden State Warriors and their fans deserve each other

What They're Saying About The Charlotte Hornets: 

Hornets’ Al Jefferson to miss 2 to 3 weeks

Three reasons why you should (and shouldn't) panic over Al Jefferson's injury

Charlotte Hornets: Jeremy Lamb A Diamond in the Rough?

Prediction: Warriors win 113-106

Charlotte is playing much faster and shooting a lot more three's this season, trying to emulate Golden State's small-ball style. It's worked for them to this point, but no one has been able to out-Warriors the Warriors - and it won't start anytime soon. I expect this game to be uncomfortably close for most of the game, but Golden State will pull away in the fourth.