Draymond Green named Western Conference Player of the Week

Golden State’s Harrison Barnes played his first game since November 27 (ankle)… Walker has now scored 20-or-more points in a team-high 12 games this season… Over the last week, which notably (and tellingly) coincided with Stephen Curry only playing 44 minutes across four games due to his leg bruise, Green averaged an impressive box score line of 18.8 p / 11.3 r / 9.5 a; the latter two averages were good for fourth in the West.

With 6:24 left in the first quarter, the Warriors (31-2) led the Hornets (17-16) by a score of 17-13.

Curry had 30 points on 12-of-21 shooting and was 5-for-10 on 3s in the victory.

Draymond Green – who was awarded the Western Conference Player of the Week Monday afternoon – continued his All-Star-level play with his third straight triple-double, posting 13 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. With Steph Curry back in the lineup (albeit briefly) against the Denver Nuggets Saturday night, and Draymond Green absolutely on fire in the first quarter after knocking down his first three shots from behind-the-arc, interim coach Luke Walton decided that he needed a little extra incentive to keep his hot streak going. Big man Spencer Hawes returned after missing five games with a back injury.

Green owns career highs across the board this season with averages of 15.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 35.2 minutes while hitting 46.1 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from three-point range. Foward Nicolas Batum (right foot toe sprain), forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (right shoulder surgery) and center Al Jefferson (right knee surgery) were listed as out and did not play. “He looked like he had a nice confidence about him today”.