Warriors at Pelicans
The Golden State Warriors have passed every test thrown their way over the last month, and next up is navigating a back-to-back on the road. The Warriors will try to complete the back-to-back sweep and run their franchise-record winning streak to 16 straight when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. The Pelicans are winners of three of their last four games but could be missing a big piece Sunday in Anthony Davis, who is day-to-day with a chest injury.
Golden State owns the best record in the NBA and shows no sign of slowing down after taking out Western Conference contenders Houston and Dallas in the last two games. The Warriors jumped out to a 39-18 lead after the first quarter in Dallas on Saturday and held off a second-half charge to earn a 105-98 win despite starting center Andrew Bogut sitting out his second straight game. Davis left Friday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers midway through the first quarter and did not return, leaving the Pelicans to lean on Tyreke Evans and Ryan Anderson in a 119-114 triumph.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (Golden State), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (20-2): Golden State has won nine straight road games and still has a stop left at Memphis on the current trip, but the Warriors are enjoying making history. “It’s probably not as bad as the pressure if you have a 15-game losing streak,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr told reporters. “We don’t feel any pressure. We’re having fun.” One of the wins during the streak came over New Orleans 112-85 on Dec. 4, when Klay Thompson scored 23 points and Stephen Curry collected 19 points and 11 assists.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (11-11): Davis spent Friday night in the hospital with a chest contusion but still has a chance to play against the Warriors. “(Davis) had a number of test done at the hospital," New Orleans coach Monty Williams told reporters on Saturday. “He stayed overnight. He just got released. Everything came back negative. ... All indications are the tests came back good for us, so we are just waiting to see how he is going to feel (Sunday)." Davis collected 30 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in the Dec. 4 meeting.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bogut will miss Sunday’s game after having his knee drained.
2. Golden State has taken eight straight in the series.
3. Anderson went 8-of-14 from 3-point range on Friday after going 6-of-32 in the previous six games this month.