NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans will look to extend their solid start to the season as they host the Golden State Warriors on Monday night at the Smoothie King Center.
The game will feature a rare appearance by Warriors guard and two-time MVP Stephen Curry. Due to scheduling, Curry hasn’t played in The Blender in front of fans since 2019.
Even though the Warriors are on the second night of a back-to-back, head coach Steve Kerr has declared his intention to have his usual starting five on the court against the Pels. The Warriors are 28-6 against the Pelicans with Curry in the lineup.
A win for the Pelicans would give them a 3-0 start for the first time since the 2018-19 season, when they opened the year with four consecutive wins. That’s also the last season that New Orleans won its first two at home as well.
The Pelicans have done it with defense so far, leading the NBA with a 93.6 defensive rating. Golden State also ranks in the top 10, posting a DRTG of 105.7, so points could be at a premium.
Keys to Victory
- Defense, defense, defense. Willie Green has stressed that the Pelicans’ identity would be based on their defensive effort from his first day. Last season, New Orleans posted a top-10 defensive mark and that commitment has continued into this year. The Warriors are averaging 110.7 ppg so far this season, while the Pels are allowing 95.5.
- Keep it moving. The Pelicans’ offense is built on ball and player movement, emphasizing pace. New Orleans, even without some key contributors, has picked up its offensive pace from a year ago. The Pels rank 11th in the NBA in pace (102.0), an improvement from last season’s 16th ranking (99.58).
- Turnovers. The Pelicans have turned it over more than they would like to start the season, and those turnovers have led to points for opponents (21.0 ppg). Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas have accounted for nearly half of their giveaways, combining for 8.5 per game.
- Points in the Paint. New Orleans is 4-1 against the Warriors with Zion Williamson in the lineup, but last season Golden State was able to limit Williamson to just 25 points in 51 minutes in two games last season. Getting the big man involved early and often is always a good decision, especially when Williamson is finding his groove after missing most of the second half of last season. If he can get things going inside, that means open looks for shooters.
- Keep firing. The Pelicans aren’t setting any records for three-point attempts or makes but they are getting good shots up from their best shooters. That’s the mindset that James Borrego wants from this offense and the Pels have obliged thus far. As long as the ball is moving and the attempts are in rhythm, New Orleans needs to keep letting those shots fly. It will pay off in the long term.
Probable Starting Lineups
| Golden St. Warriors (vs NOP last season) | New Orleans Pelicans (vs GSW last season) |
| G – Steph Curry (39.0 pts, 8.0 ast, 53.3 3P%) | G – CJ McCollum (18.8 pts, 42.9 3P%) |
| G – Klay Thompson (22.0 pts, 45.0 3P%) | G – Herbert Jones (6.8 pts, 2.5 stl, 1.5 blk) |
| F – Andrew Wiggins (N/A) | F – Brandon Ingram (25.8 pts, 4.8 ast) |
| F – Draymond Green (6.0 pts, 7.0 ast) | F – Zion Williamson (12.5 pts, 2.5 reb) |
| C – Kevon Looney (4.5 pts, 6.8 reb) | C – Jonas Valanciunas (9.7 pts, 9.3 reb) |
Injuries
New Orleans Pelicans: Jose Alvarado (right ankle sprain), Naji Marshall (right knee contusion), Trey Murphy III (left knee partial meniscectomy) are OUT
New York Knicks: Draymond Green (left ankle sprain) is probable; Jonathan Kuminga (left knee contusion), Klay Thompson (right knee soreness) are questionable
Who: Golden State Warriors (1-1) vs New Orleans Pelicans (2-0)
Series history: Warriors lead all-time 45-26, 2-2 in 2022-23
Where: Smoothie King Center
When: October 30, 7:00 PM CT
Where to watch: Bally Sports New Orleans, NBA TV
Where to listen: WRNO 99.5
READ MORE
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