SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State has been teetering the playoffs and play-in line and knew how badly it needed to beat the New Orleans Pelicans, who entered Tuesday just a half-game behind the Warriors in the Western Conference standings.
And while the focus wasn’t all there in the first half, the Warriors, propelled by Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole, overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to pick up a much-needed 120-109 win over the Pelicans.
Stephen Curry scored 39 points, Jordan Poole added 21, and Golden State (40-37) regained control of the sixth seed, sitting a half-game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves with five games left in the regular season.
Curry and Poole led the Warriors in their second-half comeback, scoring 22 and 15 points, respectively, over the final two frames.
The Warriors seemed to have carried over their execution problems from the end of their disappointing loss Sunday to Minnesota into Tuesday’s game. They spoiled a strong opening minute with costly fouls and careless turnovers, tallying 14 giveaways in the first two quarters alone.
The Warriors were up by three when Gary Payton II checked in at the 3:47 mark in the first. The Pelicans scored 11 unanswered points over the next two minutes, building their lead to eight.
Payton fouled Ingram as he launched a near half-court shot in the final second of the opening quarter. Ingram would go on to sink all three free throws to put the Pelicans up 36-25 after one. Payton, playing in his second game for the Warriors this season, wouldn’t see the floor again until the third.
The intensity went up a notch in the second quarter. Frustration built up as the Warriors struggled to keep up with the Pelicans, who started to pull away.
Draymond Green dipped his shoulder and collided with Brandon Ingram as the Pelicans forward went out in transition. The two came face-to-face and exchanged words before their teammates separated them. Each was assessed a technical foul, Green’s 17th of the season, meaning he’ll have to cough up $5,000. Green was also whistled for a Flagrant 1 foul.
On the Warriors’ next possession, Green got called for an offensive charge when he knocked over Pelicans guard Herbert Jones. Green was irate after being called for his third foul of the first half, and Kerr temporarily subbed him out.
The Warriors chipped away at the Pelicans’ 17-point halftime lead.
Curry scored nine of the Warriors’ 11 points over the final 1:37 of the third to pull within four. Poole scored back-to-back layups to give the Warriors their first lead since the first quarter with 9:10 remaining in the game. Golden State wouldn't trail again the rest of the night.
The Warriors host the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.
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