Pelicans at Warriors
The Golden State Warriors look to close out the Western Conference semifinals when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. The Warriors hold a 3-1 series lead after rolling to a 118-92 victory on Sunday for their second win by more than 20 points in the series.
Golden State has averaged 120.7 points in its three victories in the series as the Pelicans have been powerless to halt the assault. Forward Kevin Durant poured in 38 points in the Game 4 victory as the Warriors moved closer to their fourth straight Western Conference finals appearance. New Orleans is insisting it won't roll over with its season on the line but ripping off three straight wins will be a daunting chore. "No, no. We've got to win one game at Oracle and that's the one that we play next," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said in reference to Game 5 in Oakland. "That's as far as we need to look. Obviously it's a monumental task. It's been done before. As I said to the guys, we've just got to go play and you're not out until they win four games."
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE PELICANS: New Orleans suffered from poor shooting (36.4) and ball-handling (19 turnovers) in the Game 4 setback and star power forward Anthony Davis is expecting a strong bounce-back effort. "We just can't afford to shoot that poorly, but we've got another one," Davis told reporters. "Any time we've been punched in the mouth, we've always responded very well." Davis is averaging 26.3 points and 13.8 rebounds in the series and has a double-double in all eight of the team's postseason games.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Durant was 15-of-27 shooting in Game 4 and his scoring output was his highest of nine games this postseason. The splurge came after he received a critical 4 a.m. text from teammate Draymond Green after he was just 8-of-22 shooting while scoring 22 points in Game 3. "What we saw from him (Sunday), that's what we need," Green told reporters after Game 4. "He was engaged and scoring all over the place. He was changing the game. That's the impact he has when he's playing aggressive out there for us. That's what I love seeing."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Warriors PG Stephen Curry made four 3-pointers in Game 4 to move into third place on the career postseason list with 326, passing San Antonio's Manu Ginobili (324).
2. New Orleans swingman E'Twaun Moore scored 20 points in Game 4 and is averaging 15.5 points in the series.
3. Golden State SG Klay Thompson is just 6-of-26 from 3-point range over the past three games.