Warriors hold off Hornets for win in another tight battle, 132-125

A theme of the 2025-26 season for the Golden State Warriors has been tight back-and-forth contests in the fourth quarter that result in a "clutch game." A clutch game in the NBA is defined by a game where the score is within five points in the final five minutes of the game. The Warriors have already played 19 clutch games this season and have an 8-11 record in that span.

While Wednesday's game against the Charlotte Hornets won't count as a "clutch game" due to the Warriors' seven-point advantage at the five-minute mark in the fourth quarter, the Hornets quickly cut Golden State's lead to five with just under four minutes remaining in the game, meaning another close battle down the stretch.

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LaMelo Ball's late-game heroics kept the game tight in the final minutes. However, Golden State's veteran trio of Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green helped close the Hornets out in the final minute to survive for a 132-125 win in Charlotte. Green, Curry and Butler each scored two points in the final minute to help secure a win in the final leg of a three-game road trip for the Warriors.

The Warriors led by as many as 15 in the third quarter on Wednesday. Yet, a run from Ball and the Hornets helped erase Golden State's lead. The Warriors started the fourth quarter trailing by two points following a swing in favor of the Hornets. Ball and Brandon Miller combined for 60 points, but it wasn't enough to hold off the Warriors in the fourth quarter.

Curry led the Warriors with 26 points on 9-of-16 with five made 3-pointers in his return to Charlotte. Green stuffed the box score with a near triple-double performance with 10 points, 12 assists and eight boards in 28 minutes. Green's 12 assists is a new season-high.

The Warriors received a real spark off the bench in the way of Brandin Podziemski and Gui Santos on Wednesday. Podziemski tallied 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field with five made 3-pointers. Podziemski came up clutch, drilling three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

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Santos was all over the floor for the Warriors in Charlotte. The Brazilian big man notched 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting with a trio of 3-pointers. He also grabbed five rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench. Santos finished with a +15 for the Warriors.

The Warriors have now won five of their last six games and will get New Year's Day off before hosting the defending NBA Champion Oklahoma CIty Thunder on Saturday night at Chase Center.

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This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors hold off Hornets for win in another tight battle, 132-125