Despite missing four starters, the New Orleans Pelicans came out with energy and toughness, making the Golden State Warriors work for everything in a 111-95 loss at Smoothie King Center.
Golden State welcomed back Stephen Curry after a two-game absence, and while he wasn’t at his sharpest, finishing with 23 points on 7-for-21 shooting, his presence was enough to steady the Warriors in a game they couldn’t afford to drop.
New Orleans got a strong performance from Bruce Brown, who led the team with 18 points, while rookie big man Yves Missi recorded his 12th double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Elfrid Payton handed out 10 assists to follow up his 14-assist night earlier in the week.
Even in defeat, Pelicans head coach Willie Green appreciated how his team competed. He praised their effort and togetherness but acknowledged that maintaining a high level of play for all 48 minutes has been challenging all season.
Strong Start, Tough Finish
New Orleans wasted no time setting the tone, jumping out to a 14-2 lead behind the energy of Brown and Jose Alvarado. Alvarado played with intensity on both ends, pestering Curry the length of the floor and setting up easy baskets in transition. The Pelicans led by as many as 12 points in the first quarter as Golden State struggled to find its shooting rhythm, missing 15 of their first 16 three-point attempts. Even with the Warriors struggling, New Orleans couldn’t completely pull away, and by halftime, the lead was down to 53-50.
Coming out of the break, the Warriors finally found their footing. A 20-9 run to open the third quarter swung momentum, with Curry and company starting to connect from beyond the arc. While the Pelicans fought to stay within striking distance, their lack of firepower was evident in the closing minutes. When former Pelican Buddy Hield knocked down a four-point play in the fourth quarter, Golden State’s lead swelled to 15, closing the door on any comeback.
What Comes Next
With only eight games remaining in the season, the Pelicans will continue to shuffle lineups and rely on different players to step up each night. Friday marked the 41st different starting lineup.
The biggest question looming over the final stretch remains the status of Zion Williamson. Green avoided giving a definitive answer when asked about the possibility of shutting Williamson down for the remainder of the season, leaving the decision in the hands of the organization and Williamson himself.
The Pelicans return to action on Sunday when they host the Charlotte Hornets.
For more content, visit HITP Sports on YouTube or HITP Sports online.
READ MORE
- Pelicans Look to Play Spoiler Against Warriors
- Undermanned Pelicans Power Past Sixers, 112-99
- Pelicans Host 76ers in Battle of the Battered
- Pelicans Fall Short in Detroit Despite Big Nights from McCollum, Hawkins
- Pelicans Seeking Season Series Win Over Timberwolves
- Zion Dominates, Pelicans Bounce Back Big Against Timberwolves
- Shorthanded Pelicans Look to Snap Road Skid Against Timberwolves
- Pelicans Suffer Historic Loss to Pistons, 127-81
- Pelicans Look to Snap Skid as Pistons Visit
- Pelicans can’t close against Spurs, fall 119-115
- Zion Williamson Shines as Pelicans Continue Their Dominance Over Clippers
- Pelicans Look to Snap Losing Streak Against Clippers
- Pelicans Sign Center Mo Bamba to 10-Day Contract
- Murphy’s 27 not enough to snap Pelicans’ losing skid
- Pelicans Embarrassed in 29-point Loss to Rockets
- Pelicans hope Zion Williamson tilts scales against Rockets
- Zion’s Heroics Fall Short – Pelicans Lose to Lakers
- Pelicans Finding Their Groove, But Road Struggles Remain
- Tank battle: Pelicans face Jazz with dueling agendas
- Pelicans look to sweep Suns despite Zion’s absence
- Spoiler Alert: Zion’s triple-double leads Pelicans past Suns for third straight win
- It wasn’t pretty but Pelicans top Spurs for second straight win
- The Zion Dilemma: Undeniable Talent and Incredible Risk
- Can Pelicans duplicate second-half dominance against Spurs?
- Pelicans rally past Spurs with dominant second half
- Can Pelicans take advantage of Wembanyama-less Spurs in home return?
- CJ McCollum’s 43 leads Pelicans past Kings in OT thriller
