Warriors at Pelicans
The defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors are picking up where the left off and can start the season with three straight victories when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. Stephen Curry scored 40 points to beat New Orleans in the opener for both teams Tuesday and followed that up with 25 in Friday’s 112-92 triumph at Houston.
Curry, who won his first league MVP award last season, has made 9-of-21 from 3-point range in two games and dished out 13 assists overall. New Orleans is without five key players, including guard Tyreke Evans (knee), and has struggled out of the gate with a pair of double-digit losses. “We’re getting ourselves down and then everyone’s trying to do it individually,” Pelicans first-year coach Alvin Gentry told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “That’s a recipe for disaster right there.” New Orleans All-Star Anthony Davis struggled against Golden State in the opener (4-for-20 from the field), but came back with 25 points in the loss to Portland on Wednesday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, CSN Bay Area (Golden State), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (2-0): Curry has carried the bulk of the offensive load in the first two games while fellow All-Star Klay Thompson has averaged 10 points and made just one of seven attempts from 3-point range. Center Andrew Bogut is out indefinitely with a concussion and backups Festus Ezeli and Marreese Speights are each averaging double figures in scoring the first two games. Draymond Green is just 6-of-20 from the field and fellow forward Harrison Barnes contributed 12 points against Houston.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (0-2): New Orleans is adjusting to Gentry’s new offense while playing without guards Evans (knee) and Norris Cole (ankle) along with center Omer Asik (calf). Guard Eric Gordon is averaging 17 points in the early going and recent free-agent acquisition Ish Smith has scored 24 combined in the first two contests. Davis finished 10-of-17 from the field against Portland after the rough night versus Golden State and forward Ryan Anderson also rebounded with 21 after scoring nine against the Warriors.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Pelicans G Jrue Holiday was held out of the opener as he recovers from a leg injury and went 5-for-14 from the field in 21 minutes against Portland.
2. Curry has made at least one 3-pointer in 75 consecutive road games.
3. New Orleans waived G Nate Robinson and signed free-agent G Toney Douglas, who played 12 games with the Pelicans last season.