The Charlotte Hornets traveled to Chase Center in San Francisco to face the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, January 17, 2026. The game did not stay close for long. The Warriors used hot three-point shooting and balanced scoring to win, 136-116. In this article, we will look closely at the player stats from this game. We will also explain what these numbers mean and why this game stood out from a normal NBA matchup.
Quick Game Summary
Golden State controlled the game from the very first quarter. The Warriors jumped out to a 39-28 lead after the first 12 minutes, and they never let the Hornets get close again. By the end of the third quarter, Golden State led by a wide margin, and the final score was 136-116 in favor of the home team.
One interesting detail from this game is that Golden State’s star player, Jimmy Butler, did not play. He was a late scratch and sat out for personal reasons. This meant more playing time and more shots for other Warriors players, and it clearly worked in the team’s favor.
The Warriors made an amazing 23 three-pointers in this game. That is a huge number, even in today’s NBA, where teams shoot a lot of threes. This was actually the third game in a row where Golden State made at least 20 three-pointers, which set a team record.
Charlotte Hornets Player Stats
The Hornets had a rough shooting night overall, but a few players still had strong performances.
Brandon Miller was the top scorer for Charlotte. He finished with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. He shot the ball very well, hitting 11 of his 19 field goal attempts, including 6 three-pointers. His shooting was a bright spot in an otherwise difficult game for the Hornets.
Kon Knueppel also had a great game off the bench role change, playing as a starter. He scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, which was a team-high. He shot an efficient 9-for-14 from the field and made 4 of his 5 three-point attempts.
Collin Sexton added 17 points in 23 minutes, shooting 6-for-10 from the field. He gave the Hornets some good scoring energy from the bench.
LaMelo Ball, usually Charlotte’s top playmaker, had a tough shooting night. He scored 15 points but only made 5 of his 17 shots from the field. He still added 2 assists and 4 rebounds, but this was not one of his best games in terms of efficiency.
Ryan Kalkbrenner did not score much, with only 4 points, but he was active on defense with 2 steals and 7 rebounds in about 24 minutes on the floor.
Miles Bridges finished with 9 points and 4 rebounds, but he struggled with his shot, making only 4 of 12 attempts.
Here is a simple table of the main Hornets stats from the game:
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Miller | 28 | 6 | 5 | 11-19 |
| Kon Knueppel | 24 | 11 | 2 | 9-14 |
| Collin Sexton | 17 | 3 | 3 | 6-10 |
| LaMelo Ball | 15 | 4 | 2 | 5-17 |
| Miles Bridges | 9 | 4 | 2 | 4-12 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2-3 |
As a team, the Hornets shot 45.7% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range. They also had 17 turnovers, which gave the Warriors extra chances to score.
Golden State Warriors Player Stats
The Warriors had eight different players score in double figures, which shows how well the team shared the ball and the scoring load, even without Jimmy Butler.
De’Anthony Melton was the top scorer for Golden State, coming off the bench to score 24 points. He shot 8-for-16 from the field and was perfect from the free-throw line, making all 5 of his attempts. He also had 6 rebounds and 3 assists, and he played a big part in Golden State’s win.
Draymond Green put together an excellent all-around game. He scored 20 points, added 6 assists and 3 rebounds, and shot 8-for-14 from the field, including 4 three-pointers.
Brandin Podziemski had a strong game as well, finishing with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and a team-high 7 assists. He was very efficient, shooting 5-for-9 from the field.
Buddy Hield came off the bench and scored 14 points, hitting 2 three-pointers. He also had 3 steals and 3 blocks, which is a rare combination for a guard.
Stephen Curry had a quieter night by his usual standards. He scored 14 points and added 5 assists, but he only made 2 of his 8 three-point attempts. Curry still played solid defense and controlled the game’s pace.
Al Horford and Moses Moody also chipped in, with 11 and 12 points, and both players shot the ball efficiently from the field.
Here is a table with the main Warriors stats from the game:
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| De’Anthony Melton | 24 | 6 | 3 | 8-16 |
| Draymond Green | 20 | 3 | 6 | 8-14 |
| Brandin Podziemski | 16 | 6 | 7 | 5-9 |
| Buddy Hield | 14 | 3 | 1 | 5-8 |
| Stephen Curry | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6-12 |
| Moses Moody | 12 | 1 | 2 | 4-6 |
| Al Horford | 11 | 2 | 1 | 4-7 |
As a team, Golden State shot an impressive 54.8% from the field and 44.2% from three-point range. Those numbers explain why the Warriors were able to build such a big lead and keep it throughout the game.
Key Takeaways From This Matchup
There are a few clear reasons why the Warriors won this game so comfortably.
First, Golden State’s three-point shooting was the biggest factor. Making 23 threes on 52 attempts is an outstanding shooting night, and it stretched Charlotte’s defense in a way that was hard to fix.
Second, the Warriors had much better ball movement. Golden State finished with 34 team assists compared to 27 for Charlotte, and this showed in how many open shots the Warriors created.
Third, Charlotte struggled with turnovers, giving the ball away 17 times. Every turnover is a missed scoring chance, and against a hot-shooting team like the Warriors, those mistakes add up quickly.
Finally, individual performances from Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel kept the game from becoming a total blowout. Without their strong shooting nights, the score could have been even more lopsided.
Final Thoughts
This Hornets-Warriors game is a good example of how three-point shooting and ball movement can decide an NBA game. Even without one of their best players in Jimmy Butler, the Warriors showed great depth, with eight players scoring in double figures. On the other side, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel gave Hornets fans something to be excited about, even in a losing effort. Fans who enjoy watching efficient shooting and unselfish basketball will find a lot to like when they look back at the full stats from this game.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was the top scorer in the Hornets vs Warriors game on January 17, 2026? Brandon Miller led the Charlotte Hornets with 28 points, while De’Anthony Melton led the Golden State Warriors with 24 points off the bench.
2. Why did Jimmy Butler not play for the Warriors in this game? Jimmy Butler was a late scratch before the game and did not play for personal reasons. His absence gave more playing time to players like De’Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield, and Will Richard.
3. How many three-pointers did the Warriors make against the Hornets? The Golden State Warriors made 23 three-pointers out of 52 attempts. This was their third straight game with at least 20 made threes, which set a new team record.
