Warriors at Pelicans
The Golden State Warriors brought in former MVP Kevin Durant to pair with reigning two-time MVP Stephen Curry and All-Stars Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, and it might be that none of those four are the best player on the court Friday. New Orleans forward Anthony Davis had the best season debut of any player in the league and will try to follow it up when the Pelicans host the Warriors on Friday.
Davis recorded 50 points, 16 rebounds, seven steals, five assists and four blocks but New Orleans still fell to the Denver Nuggets 107-102 at home on Wednesday. "It’s tough. It probably wasn’t enough," Davis, knowing he needs to carry his team, told reporters. "I missed like three layups at the basket, some chip shots that I normally make." The Warriors are about to play their first road game of the season and hear how a hostile crowd responds to Durant, who drew plenty of criticism for joining a team that won an NBA-record 73 games last season. Golden State is just eight losses away from matching its 2015-16 total after getting embarrassed 129-100 in a home loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, CSN Bay Area (Golden State)
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (0-1): Durant put up 27 points and 10 rebounds in his team debut but Golden State was outrebounded 64-41 and surrendered 21 offensive boards after shipping center Andrew Bogut to Dallas to make room for Durant in the offseason. "I didn't have them ready to play, obviously," coach Steve Kerr told reporters. "We came out of the blocks, we missed some easy shots, but I never worry about missed shots, it's more about loose balls and a second or third effort." The Warriors finished third in the NBA with a defensive field goal percentage of 43.5 last season and allowed San Antonio to go off at 48 percent.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (0-1): Health has always been the biggest concern for Davis, who was shut down in March with a knee injury last season and battled a sprained ankle in training camp, and he is capable of dominating when he's not fighting his own body. "He's a (heck) of a player," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters of Davis. "He's one of the best players in the league. It doesn't surprise me that he has the night like he had. It's not like this is the first time he's ever done it." Tim Frazier added five rebounds to go with 15 points and 11 assists but New Orleans was still outrebounded 69-42 by Denver.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Pelicans rookie G Buddy Hield went 2-for-8 from the field, including 0-of-3 from 3-point range, in his NBA debut.
2. Curry, who set an NBA record with 402 3-pointers last season, went 3-of-10 from beyond the arc in the opener.
3. Golden State took the last seven in the series, going back to a four-game sweep in the first round of the 2015 playoffs.