Warriors Cruise to Victory in Impressive Blowout vs Pelicans

Liam O'Connor

October 30th 2023

(Stephen Curry celebrates a 3 pointer)

The Golden State Warriors displayed their dominance as they took on the New Orleans Pelicans and emerged with a 130-102 victory. This marked the Warriors' third consecutive win, all of which were achieved on the road, and completed a clean sweep in their first back-to-back games of the season, following a Sunday night win over the Houston Rockets. While it's still early in the season, there's a noticeable shift in the performance of this year's Warriors team, attributed to their depth, road success, and the abilities of their superstar guard, Stephen Curry.

Expectations for this game were tempered somewhat when it was announced that Klay Thompson, Jonathan Kuminga, and Brandon Ingram were sidelined due to injuries. However, both teams seemed evenly matched during the first quarter, with neither able to establish a lead larger than three points.

Pelicans' forward Zion Williamson, struggled with foul trouble throughout the game, and as both teams' bench depth was tested, the Warriors began to pull away during the second quarter.

Moses Moody seamlessly filled in for Thompson in the starting lineup, while rookies Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis stepped into the second unit for Kuminga. Although Thompson and Kuminga are vital for the Warriors' title contention, they also have the ability to be offensive focal points. With both players out, the Warriors had no choice but to rely on the dynamic duo of Curry and Chris Paul.

Jackson-Davis emerged as a standout player off the bench, recording an impressive stat line of 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks in under 20 minutes of play. His performance on both ends of the court indicated his potential as a valuable backup center. As the Warriors aim to manage Draymond Green's minutes at the center position, Jackson-Davis' development could be a significant positive for the team.

The Warriors closed out the third quarter with a 13-1 run, extending their lead to 98-78. Given that it was the second half of a back-to-back, no one would have been surprised if coach Steve Kerr had opted to keep Curry on the bench for the entire fourth quarter. However, Curry returned to the floor and delivered yet another explosive performance.

Curry, who typically downplays personal accolades, seemed to be playing with MVP aspirations. In this game, he finished with 42 points, shooting 15-for-22 from the field in just 30 minutes of play, making a strong case for the early-season MVP favorite.

After a successful three-game road trip, the Warriors will return home to face the Kings on Wednesday night, with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 PM.

(Warriors guards Chris Paul and Brandin Podziemski celebrate the win)