By Rell Wright, Pelicans Contributor
The New Orleans Pelicans saw a promising start slip away Tuesday night as they surrendered a 20-point lead to a Stephen Curry-less Golden State Warriors, losing 124-106. Despite a strong showing from Zion Williamson, who scored a season-high 31 points on 12-for-20 shooting and added eight rebounds, the Pelicans faltered down the stretch.
Brandon Ingram also contributed heavily with 30 points, helping New Orleans dominate early on and build a double-digit advantage. However, turnovers proved costly as Golden State turned up their defensive pressure, forcing 24 Pelicans mistakes that led to 34 Warrior points and flipped the game’s momentum.
Golden State’s bench, led by Buddy Hield’s seven 3-pointers and season-best 28 points, found their rhythm in the second half. Rookie Brandin Podziemski was pivotal, scoring 19 points and igniting the Warriors’ comeback with a clutch third-quarter stretch that gave them a 71-67 lead they never relinquished.
Although New Orleans controlled the boards with a 44-34 rebounding edge, they struggled to counter Golden State’s relentless defense. In the absence of Curry, the Warriors played with intensity, using 15 steals and a relentless transition game to seize control and leave the Pelicans stunned.
