SAN FRANCISCO — The Pelicans have been much more short-handed than the Warriors, having CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones and Dejounte Murray unavailable attributable to accidents.
Their skeleton crew couldn’t preserve tempo with the Warriors, even with out Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins and De’Anthony Melton for a second straight night time. Particularly with their finest two gamers no-showing.
Draymond Inexperienced (14 factors, six assists, 5 blocks, 4 rebounds and a steal) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (15 factors, 9 rebounds) outplayed Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, serving to key an enormous third-quarter run. The Warriors outscored the Pelicans 56 to 34 within the paint, a stat that exhibits equally Inexperienced’s defensive brilliance and Golden State’s offensive strategy. An evening after Buddy Hield and Lindy Waters III lit it up from deep, the Warriors bought it finished within the entrance court docket.
Williamson had a double-double however went 5-for-20 from the sector and Ingram was restricted to only 14 factors on 11 photographs.
In a uncommon back-to-back at dwelling towards the identical opponent, the shorthanded Warriors (4-1) swept the undermanned Pelicans. Golden State pulled away within the second half for a 104-89 victory in its final dwelling sport earlier than heading on a frightening highway journey that features contests towards the Celtics, Thunder and Cavaliers.
Waters earned his second profession begin after he exploded for 21 factors off the bench in Warriors-Pelicans Vol. 1. The Pelicans had a significantly better scouting report on him after that efficiency, as they held him to a few factors. However the Warriors had different choices.
Brandin Podziemski performed one other large all-around sport, ending with 13 factors, 9 rebounds and eight assists. Hield got here alive within the second half, ending with 21 factors. Inexperienced additionally added a trio of 3-pointers.
Golden State’s ball motion was a lot much less crisp than it was within the first sport of the back-to-back. The Warriors dedicated 9 turnovers within the first 16 minutes of the sport. An evening earlier than, they turned it over eight instances whole, dominating the possession sport.
The Warriors’ turnovers prevented them from constructing a cushion. After going up 32-20, the Warriors surrendered a 16-2 run within the second quarter, with Steve Kerr taking two timeouts to attempt to settle issues down.
After a back-and-forth second quarter, Brandon Ingram sank a 3 with three seconds left within the half to drag the Pelicans inside one. However Draymond Inexperienced bounced an advance move up the center of the court docket for Buddy Hield, who raced with it for a buzzer-beating trey of his personal.
So, regardless of turning the ball over 11 instances within the first half, Golden State entered halftime with a 48-44 lead. They shot over 50% from the sector and 47% from 3-point land within the first half, however allowed New Orleans to take 12 extra photographs than them due to turnovers and offensive boards.
They bought each areas below management within the second half. Golden State opened the third quarter on a 17-6 blitz, with Jackson-Davis hammering dwelling a pair of dunks, Inexperienced slashing to the rim for an and-1, and Podziemski rattling dwelling a 3. And with out having to backpedal after turnovers, Golden State’s protection swallowed up the Pelicans within the half court docket.
After Jackson-Davis fed Podziemski for a bucket, Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced referred to as his second timeout of the third interval to pause a 21-9 run.
Golden State’s blazing begin to the second half helped create a 17-point cushion. Williamson had probabilities to place the Pelicans on his again, however missed a pair point-blank tries and three free throws. After three quarters, Williamson was 3-for-16 from the sector.
Williamson by no means bought going, and the Warriors by no means seemed again. Hield’s third 3-pointer gave Golden State an 18-point lead 5 minutes into the fourth quarter earlier than Jonathan Kuminga — coming off the bench for a second straight sport — dusted Ingram to push it to twenty.
The one moments of drama within the fourth got here when Steve Kerr misplaced his first problem of the 12 months after beginning 4-for-4 — all of which overturned fouls referred to as on Inexperienced. Proper after that, Podziemski picked up a technical foul for arguing a missed out-of-bounds name that he by no means touched.
Inexperienced picked up his fifth foul on a Williamson and-1 following Podziemski’s technical, then Kuminga didn’t field out on a free throw. The string of miscues stored New Orleans inside hanging distance.
However the Warriors had sufficient composure to shut out the Pelicans. Podziemski braced a clumsy fall together with his proper arm after getting undercut by Javonte Inexperienced, however remained within the sport to assist seal the win.
