With Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins but also Draymond Green spared, and Kevon Looney limited to five minutes of playing time, the Warriors were never able to stand up to a full Pelicans who had benefited from two days rest before the match.
Hampered by the B team of the Warriors during the first meeting between the two teams, the Pelicans this time gave no quarter to Golden State. They started the game 17-4, up to 24 points behind Brandon Ingram’s 13 points. It takes the nine points of Jordan Poole, to compensate for the 7 lost balls and 12% success at 3-pointers of the Warriors, to avoid the worst (35-16). Golden State stops the bleeding but the Pelicans end the half on a 7-0 to increase their lead to 24 units (65-41).
After losing the ball sixteen times in the first half, the Warriors are more applied but that does not change the scenario. Brandon Ingram continues his festival and the Pelicans take a 35-point lead in the third quarter before finishing in a freewheeling game to return to victory after their loss to Boston on Friday.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– 16 balls lost in the first half for Golden State. Stuck in the Pelicans defense, the Warriors struggled to put their game in place. Only Jordan Poole survived but he still lost 4 balls in the first half, setting the tone for the disastrous first 24 minutes for Steve Kerr’s young players. The coach surely expected better from his replacements with all his starters resting.
– Pelicans fans deprived of Curry, Thompson, Green, and Wiggins this season. For the second time this season, the Warriors played in New Orleans and once again, their medical staff did not make friends on the Louisiana side. Since the start of the season, Klay Thompson has never played two games in a row, so he was spared during this trip. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, who Steve Kerr had to shoot more than expected after 17 games, were also rested in those two games. A coincidence of the calendar which means that NBA fans in New Orleans will not have seen Stephen Curry play this season when they undoubtedly paid a high price to buy their tickets. A problem that the NBA is watching very closely.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Brandon Ingram. While the Pelicans found Zion Williamson, it was Brandon Ingram who dominated the game. The New Orleans winger was one, if not two tones above everyone that night. He took control of the match and strolled against Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody to finish as the match’s top scorer, all with formidable efficiency.
✅ Devonte Graham. He’s the sixth man New Orleans needs to return to the playoffs. As soon as he comes into play, he hits the mark from afar, even with a 4-point action. His distant address hurts the Warriors very much.
✅ ⛔ Jordan Poole. He’s about the only one to really float with his 26 points at 50% on shots. But he does not take a rebound, and does not make the slightest pass …
⛔ Jonathan Kuminga. Good in defense on Zion Williamson, less good in attack where he still does not find the right balance between penetrations and outside shooting. It just plays backwards.
THE FOLLOWING
Golden State (8-10) : Warriors return to Chase Center to face Clippers on Wednesday
New Orleans (10-7): Pelicans travel to San Antonio on Wednesday
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