JaVale McGee gave Warriors TV broadcaster Jim Barnett his gold chain to hold on to before tip off on Monday. The comeback chain proved to be good luck charm, as the Warriors rallied from a 21-point deficit and defeated the Pelicans 125-115.
Warriors G Stephen Curry continued his phenomenal play, tallying 31 Points and 11 Assists. However, Curry landed very awkwardly on his ankle with less than two minutes to go in the game. X-rays came back negative, but Curry required crutches to exit the arena.
Warriors G Klay Thompson also had a good night, scoring 22 Points on 8/13 shooting, while Kevin Durant and Draymond Green both dropped in 19 Points.
Pelicans G Jrue Holiday scored 34 Points and G E’Twaun Moore added a career-high 27 Points on 11/18 shooting. Star C DeMarcus Cousins added 19 Points and 11 Rebounds before getting ejected for an altercation with Kevin Durant.
The Pelicans ended the first half shooting over 50% and had a 69-49 lead. However, after the break, the defending champs turned on the switch, led by the Big Four, and opened the half on a 15-0 run. The game then kept going back and forth, with the Pelicans regaining an 11-point lead late in the third quarter.
In the fourth, the game maintained its back and forth competitiveness, until Nick Young drained back-to-back threes, giving the Warriors the lead for good.
Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins were both ejected late in the fourth quarter, following a verbal altercation and a near fight. Both players had received technicals earlier in the game as well.
Warriors G/F Patrick McCaw went to the locker room late in the first half after being smacked in the face by Cousins following a block. He did not return to the game.
The Warriors travel to Charlotte to face the Hornets on Wednesday, while the Pelicans host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
