It was ugly early, beautiful late. That’s probably an apt description for most of the Warriors’ wins this season.
A first half that matched the early-week, tepid Tuesday energy gave way to a late-game demolition.
It was effectively a must-win game, and Golden State obliged, securing a testy, 120-109 win over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans.
Warriors sparkplugs snap them awake, drive late
The combination of lack of effort and disjointed play by the Warriors in the first half can be best exemplified by a head-scratching foul from Gary Payton II. With 0.8 seconds left on the clock in the first quarter, he fouled Ingram for three free throws.
Steph Curry’s reaction after that foul, with his head buried in a towel, exemplified the feeling in that half.
There were moments in the third quarter when the Warriors hit what seemed like huge shots. Then you’d look up at the scoreboard to see the Warriors down 7, 8, or 9.
Towards the end of the third, the Pelicans were shooting 52.6 percent from deep. Brandon Ingram, who had 26 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, a block and 6 turnovers, was getting what he wanted in the lane.
But a late third-quarter burst led Golden State out of the doldrums.
It came largely from everyone surrounding the Splash Bros.
Kevon Looney entered this game second in the league in offensive rebounds with 247, trailing Clint Capela by three. He made up much of that ground when the Warriors were desperate to escape that perpetual half-dozen-plus-point deficit.
In the final two minutes of the third, Looney had four offensive rebounds, with two on back-to-back possessions. Both of those double-rebound possessions set up Curry 3-pointers. While he got the rare non-start, he finished with 3 points and 8 rebounds, 6 of which came on the offensive boards.
Then in the fourth, the Warriors youth movement set in. Draymond Green — who was excellent despite a chaotic first half — threw a dart to Jonathan Kuminga for a nice dunk to cut a five-point deficit to three. Green had 8 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists, 2 steals and 4 turnovers. His defense was outstanding.
Steve Kerr said of Green after the game:
“Draymond willed us to victory.”
Kuminga and Green’s energy was matched by Jordan Poole — whose late-third dunk sent Chase Center into a frenzy — with a couple of aggressive drives to the rim. He went hard to the rim on both, with the second, over Jonas Valanciunas, giving the Warriors their first lead since 3:36 remained in the first quarter.
After a desperate New Orleans timeout, there was an immediate defensive stop from Draymond Green on McCollum.
Poole, perpetually chaotic, drove the length of the floor, then stopped. Instead of losing control, he pulled back in the paint and found Jonathan Kuminga for a dunk.
Kuminga, who got the start in place of Looney, was a menace at that point. Green found him again on the ensuing possession for a deep entry pass that led to a couple Kuminga free throws.
The next possession? He landed this airliner of a dunk for an and-one attempt (but missed the free throw). He had 13 points — making all of his five attempts from the floor — along with 4 rebounds, an assist and a block. He had some great defensive possessions, too.
At that point, they were in a rhythm on both ends and rebounding.
Golden State continued their torrid stretch to a 16-4 run with a Jordan Poole 3-pointer and free throw. He finished the game with 21 points (8-of-15, 2-of-6 from 3-pt), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal, a block and a turnover.
After a charge by Green on a would-be assist to another Kuminga score, New Orleans finally got a score courtesy of a Trey Murphy III 3-pointer. That necessitated one of those patented, immediate timeouts from Steve Kerr.
Curry missed a layup coming off the timeout, but secured his own board and dished it to the red-hot Poole, who obliged from deep yet again.
It was all splitting at the seams for New Orleans at that point. Ingram, who had been their one true threat all game, clanked one off the side of the backboard.
A Kerr challenge got the Warriors the ball back and Curry, who was aggressive from the start, sunk a 3-pointer to put Golden State up by 10 — their largest lead of the night.
The franchise lynchpin had 39 points (14-of-25, 8-of-15 from 3) 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals and 4 turnovers. His effort on the glass was felt in that stretch the Warriors took the lead. His shooting, obviously, was too.
That assault continued to the point that Kerr pulled all of his starters with about a minute to go. It was a stunning 35-20 fourth quarter (with 6 points from New Orleans in the meaningless final minute) that exemplified why the Warriors, as confounding as they often are, still remain a legitimate threat.
Donte DiVincenzo and Gary Payton II coexist
When Gary Payton II made his return on Sunday night, Donte DiVincenzo seemed to struggle to find his place. He still played 21 minutes, five below his season average, but he couldn’t seem to find the same rhythm he’d been in for most of the season.
He finished with just 2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a turnover while Payton II shined.
Steve Kerr said before that game and before Tuesday’s contest that there would be an adjustment period for DiVincenzo in that regard.
On Tuesday, DiVincenzo was back to being an impact player.
He offered a major jolt to start the second half, which the Warriors began down 17 points. It began with this “he can do that?” putback dunk and an and-one to immediately cut the deficit to 12 points.
DiVincenzo also got fouled hard by CJ McCollum for a flagrant-1, jawing with the Lehigh product before and after his free throw attempts.
He got the start and obliged with 13 points, 7 rebounds, a couple assists and a steal.
Payton II’s impact was less than the game prior, but he his impact was obvious when he was in. He got Ingram out of a groove and picked up the steal and assist to Poole sent Chase Center into a late-third-quarter uproar.
While those two occupy similar roles, Tuesday highlighted how they can both be effective in the same game.
Tempers flare
Whatever friendliness or goodwill that existed between former Warriors coach Willie Green’s Pelicans and his former coworkers evaporated in a few key stretches of the first half.
It started with Draymond Green, who picked up a flagrant after a shove on Ingram. Ingram sought him out and both picked up technicals. Green had a charge on the next possession, leading to another scuffle and a short benching from Steve Kerr.
That didn’t go away in the second half.
With 6:43 left in the third, C.J. McCollum ran through a screening Donte DiVincenzo with a high forearm. DiVincenzo was irate, and understandably so.
He made sure McCollum heard him even after he was subbed out. When Klay Thompson hit a prompt 3-pointer to put the Warriors within 8, DiVincenzo pointed at McCollum — who was guarding Thompson — all the way down the floor.
The way the Warriors bludgeoned the Pelicans at the end of the game made the tempestuous stuff fall to the wayside, but there were some moments of animosity in this one.