San Francisco Nov. 6 (US): Jordan Paul scored 26 points, Stephen Curry had 19 and the Golden State Warriors beat the New Orleans Pelicans 126-85 on Friday night to improve to 7-1.
Second Gary Payton added 17 points, and the Warriors broke it by 34 points in the third quarter. They made their best start since opening 10-1 in 2018-19, The Associated Press reports.
Jonas Valanciunas scored 20 points for the Pelicans. They were relegated to 1-9 when they started the season without injured superstar Zion Williamson.
Although Paul continues to emerge as a top scorer alongside Curry, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is perfectly happy with the production from his seat. Golden State reserves outnumbered 57-30 in New Orleans.
“I thought New Orleans really came out in that first quarter playing hard and hitting the ball,” Kerr said. “We came on the bench and we sort of got up and got some stops and got back into the game (under control).”
Golden State has won 15 of its past 17 games against New Orleans in the Bay Area.
The Warriors led up to 15 in the first half, but entered the break with a difference of only 54-50. They opened things up with a 22-6 run in the third round, part of it came with Curry on the bench, and took the 88-66 cushion for fourth.
Payton gained a bigger role in the Warriors rotation, taking seven points for third and a handful of crowd dunks for the night.
“We have to be tougher,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “This is a really good team and they played like it. They lifted it in the second half.”
get defense
Although the Warriors’ 126 points were the season’s highest, their defense continues to play a large role in their early success.
They held New Orleans with 35.6% shooting Friday. Golden State has now managed to keep its other three competitors at less than 100 points and less than 40% in shooting from the ground.
highlight reel
The Pelicans had no notable moments in the ugly loss. One came in the second quarter, when Trey Murphy III rejected Poole’s bid after Pool made a flashy crossover move and drive to the basket that elicited a huge reaction from the selling crowd.
I’m back in town
Green served on the Kerr crew for three seasons, including two championships in 2017 and 2018.
Green said the two communicate regularly. That wisdom will likely come in handy as Green endures a difficult start to his first season as a head coach in the NBA.
“I’ve learned to be on guard (from CARE),” Green said. “How important it is to always consider the human factor when dealing with players. Steve has a great way about it.”
Hints
Pelicans: Striker Brandon Ingram (groin contusion) missed his fourth game in a row. New Orleans was also without Herbert Jones (a concussion), a 6-foot-7 novice player who has been a versatile defender thus far.
Warriors: Kerr said he will continue to experiment with how Curry’s minutes are distributed. Curry usually started the second quarter off the bench, but Wednesday against Charlotte, he got some rest in the first quarter and started second on the floor surrounded by reserves. “It was a chance for us to see him drive the second unit, which is very exciting,” Kerr said. Kerr’s goal is to get to Curry in 33 or 34 minutes a game to keep him fresh. …Andre Iguodala had 10 assists off the bench on Friday, the first time in franchise history that a player has come off the bench to provide double-digit assists in less than 18 minutes.
the following
Pelicans: In Dallas on Monday night.
Warriors: Houston hosts Sunday night.