As the first half wrapped up, it seemed like the New Orleans Pelicans (12-12) were doing just fine without star forward Anthony Davis on Monday against the Golden State Warriors. However it was too good to be true as the Warriors fought back late, beating the Pelicans 125-115.
It was all Pelicans from the outset as they got out to 8-0 lead in the opening two minutes, but the Warriors fought back to tie things up at the halfway mark of the first quarter. Jrue Holiday helped get New Orleans out to as much as a 13-point lead before Steph Curry brought it down to a seven-point deficit at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the lead change four times, but the big story was the Pelicans exploding late with 17-2 run to take a 69-49 lead into the locker room.
The 20 point lead at the break quickly evaporated though with the Warriors going on a 15-0 run early in the third quarter. The momentum shifted to Golden State, getting the deficit down the three points headed into the fourth.
It was all Warriors in the fourth quarter, especially after Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins got into a tussle late in the ballgame. After both were ejected, Golden State put the game out of reach.
The Pelicans will stay at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday to take on the Denver Nuggets (13-10) with tipoff set for 7 pm.
-Clint Domingue