What we learned as Podz, Waters fuel Warriors’ comeback win vs. Pels originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
BOX SCORE
SAN FRANCISCO – The quantity of the Warriors’ depth never was in question as coach Steve Kerr used a 12-man rotation in each of Golden State’s first three games, even playing as many as 14. The quality of the team’s many pieces is what was put to the test Tuesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans without Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins and De’Anthony Melton.
Early on, the results were rough. Once the Warriors settled in and found the right combinations, however, Golden State was rolling and Chase Center was rocking in a 124-106 win. The Warriors over the final three quarters outscored the Pelicans 110-75, a 35-point advantage.
Brandin Podziemski was phenomenal in Curry’s place at point guard. The second-year pro was a plus-17 with 19 points and five assists. Buddy Hield caught fire in the second half, going a perfect 6 of 6 from 3-point range in the final two quarters for a team-high 28 points. Perhaps the biggest story of the night was Lindy Waters, who scored 21 points in 30 minutes off the bench.
The Warriors took much better care of the ball, totaling 34 assists and turning it over just eight times. Their swarming defense also showed up to the tune of 14 steals, and the Warriors scored 32 points off 32 Pelicans turnovers.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ bounce-back win.
Surprise Starting Lineup
Down two starters in Curry and Wiggins, as well as a key reserve in Melton, Kerr shocked many with his starting lineup. Podziemski replaced Curry at point guard, but Jonathan Kuminga was moved to the bench after three games. In came Hield and Moses Moody to join Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
The first look wasn’t pretty, or successful, in any facet of the game. The Warriors trailed 31-14 after the first quarter and were dominated up and down the court. While every Pelicans starter scored in the first quarter, only two Warriors starters scored as Podziemski provided seven points and Moody added three. Kerr’s starters didn’t play together again the rest of the first…
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