Imago
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES
Imago
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES
The Golden State Warriors returned home facing a tricky challenge without their star, Stephen Curry, who is sidelined with a quad contusion and expected to miss at least a week. Sitting at 10-10 and feeling the pressure in the West standings, the team needed to find a way to keep its season on track after a tough 104-100 loss to the Houston Rockets. With Curry out, the Warriors had to rethink their game plan and lean on other players to step up.
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Fans weren’t exactly thrilled with the lineup for Saturday’s game. Head coach Steve Kerr rolled out Brandin Podziemski, Quentin Post, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Moses Moody, and the inclusion of Podziemski sparked concern and debate on social media.
Many worried this combination wouldn’t have the firepower or chemistry to take down the New Orleans Pelicans, who were struggling themselves with a 3-17 record. Despite the doubts, the Warriors found a way to pull it off. A strong fourth-quarter push helped Golden State secure a 104-96 victory over New Orleans.
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Golden State Warriors vs New Orleans Pelicans player stats
Golden State Warriors
| PLAYER | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | PF | +/- |
| STARTERS | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jimmy Butler III#10 | 37 | 24 | 7-15 | 0-2 | 10-14 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +22 |
| Draymond Green#23 | 31 | 2 | 0-9 | 0-7 | 2-2 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | +3 |
| Quinten Post#21 | 17 | 8 | 3-6 | 1-4 | 1-1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -2 |
| Moses Moody#4 | 27 | 1 | 4-12 | 2-7 | 1-1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | +8 |
| Brandin Podziemski#2 | 33 | 15 | 5-13 | 3-9 | 2-2 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | +7 |
| BENCH | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | PF | +/- |
| Jonathan Kuminga#1 | 19 | 10 | 4-8 | 2-5 | 0-0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +2 |
| Buddy Hield#7 | 17 | 8 | 3-9 | 2-7 | 0-0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -14 |
| Gary Payton II#0 | 25 | 19 | 9-14 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +13 |
| Pat Spencer#61 | 15 | 4 | 2-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +3 |
| Will Richard#3 | 20 | 3 | 1-4 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -2 |
| Trayce Jackson-Davis#32 | DNP | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gui Santos#15 | DNP | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| TEAM TOTAL | – | 104 | 38-93 | 12-47 | 16-20 | 47 | 28 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 23 | – |
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New Orleans Pelicans
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| PLAYER | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | PF | +/- |
| STARTERS | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Zion Williamson#1 | 31 | 25 | 8-16 | 0-2 | 9-10 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 |
| Derik Queen#22 | 16 | 2 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -17 |
| Saddiq Bey#41 | 38 | 21 | 7-17 | 2-7 | 5-8 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -13 |
| Bryce McGowens#11 | 26 | 5 | 2-6 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +10 |
| Jeremiah Fears#0 | 36 | 16 | 5-17 | 3-9 | 3-6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -15 |
| BENCH | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | PF | +/- |
| Kevon Looney#55 | 10 | 4 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +8 |
| Yves Missi#21 | 20 | 9 | 4-6 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +1 |
| Jose Alvarado#15 | 31 | 7 | 1-10 | 1-7 | 4-4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -11 |
| Micah Peavy#14 | 32 | 7 | 2-8 | 0-2 | 3-4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Trey Murphy III#25 | DNP | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| DeAndre Jordan#9 | DNP | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jordan Hawkins#24 | DNP | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| TEAM TOTAL | – | 96 | 32-86 | 7-30 | 25-34 | 50 | 16 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 21 | – |
Warriors vs Pelicans: Game summary and key moments
Golden State entered the night with one goal: to prove they could function without Stephen Curry. The first quarter showed the challenge. By the 6:15 mark, Golden State managed just 11 points, missing eight straight shots. They ended the opening frame down 24–19, shooting under 38%, and the offence looked unsure of itself.
The second quarter didn’t get smoother. At 3:42 before halftime, the Warriors still hadn’t cracked 40 points. New Orleans wasn’t dominating, but Zion Williamson controlled the pace, piling up paint touches and soft finishes. The Pelicans led 47–42 at the break, with Golden State posting their lowest first-half scoring total of the season.
The third quarter shifted slightly. Zion’s burst continued, 14 of his 25 came after halftime, and at the 5:28 mark, the Pelicans pushed the lead to 65–56.
But Golden State didn’t fold. Kuminga, returning from injury, buried back-to-back threes inside the final two minutes of the quarter, trimming the deficit to 73–70 entering the fourth. Those two shots kept the game alive.
The final frame was the turning point. At 8:14, the Warriors were still down 78–73. Then came the run. Jimmy Butler initiated a 12–0 burst, starting with a mid-range jumper and a drive at 7:40, followed by Gary Payton II converting two straight cuts.
By the 4:56 mark, Golden State had jumped ahead 90–82, their first comfortable lead of the night.
Butler closed with 24 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds, controlling every possession. Payton added 19 and 11, while Podziemski chipped in 15 and 6 assists. Draymond Green stabilised everything with 9 rebounds and defensive direction.
The Warriors outscored New Orleans 34–23 in the fourth and sealed a 104–96 win, climbing to 11–10. No Curry. Slow start. But a redeeming fourth quarter.
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