Warriors Notes: Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, De’Anthony Melton

The Warriors got an unexpected spark Saturday, and it came from a familiar face.

Veteran shooter Buddy Hield found his way back into the rotation and made it count in a win over Charlotte, according to Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area. Hield has been buried for stretches this season and has not shot it well by his standards, hitting just 32.7 percent from three in limited action.

Opportunity, however, has a way of changing things.

That opportunity arrived late. Jimmy Butler was scratched shortly before tip for personal reasons, opening the door for Hield. The 33-year-old responded with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting in 18 minutes, adding three rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.

Coach Steve Kerr appreciated more than the box score.

“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever seen,” Kerr said, praising Hield’s energy and presence even when he is not playing.

Butler Confusion

The night started oddly. Butler was announced as a starter during introductions, then never appeared. Rookie Will Richard took the spot instead, briefly confusing the Chase Center crowd. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. later assured Kerr everything was fine with Butler, per Johnson.

Depth Shows Up

Golden State got production across the board. Richard finished with eleven points, six rebounds, and five assists. De’Anthony Melton led the way with24 points, while Brandin Podziemski added 16 points and seven assists.