The Golden State Warriors aim to maintain their lead in the NBA Cup semifinals when they visit the injury-ravaged New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
With home wins over the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies, the Warriors are looking to remain the only unbeaten team in West Group C and improve their point differential if necessary.
The Pelicans defeated the Denver Nuggets in their only previous home game in the in-season tournament. Currently at 1-1, they are tied with the Nuggets and Mavericks for second place in the group and could bring the Warriors back to the pack with a win on Friday.
Since their 101-94 victory over the Nuggets last Friday, New Orleans has struggled, suffering defeats to the Los Angeles Lakers, Mavericks, and Cleveland Cavaliers by a combined 74 points. They are coming off a 128-100 loss to Cleveland on Wednesday.
A bright spot from Wednesday’s game was rookie guard Antonio Reeves, who exploded for 34 points in a season-high 40 minutes. The Kentucky product had totaled just 23 points in his first eight games and wasn’t on the active roster when the Pelicans were swept in a pair of October games at Golden State.
With Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, Jordan Hawkins, and Jose Alvarado all out of the lineup, Reeves took advantage of an opportunity that coach Willie Green said he worked hard to get.
The Warriors, already winners of six road games this season, have no such health issues. They are only missing De’Anthony Melton, ruled out for the season with a partially torn left ACL.
Lindy Waters III has stepped into Melton’s starting spot, contributing at least two 3-pointers in each of Golden State’s last three games. He scored 10 points in Wednesday’s 120-97 home win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Buddy Hield (11 points) and Jonathan Kuminga (10) were among five others who also scored in double figures for the Warriors, coming off the bench.
Keeping the team together was a key reason for promoting Waters, Warriors coach Steve Kerr noted after Wednesday’s win.
Waters had 21 points as a reserve and Hield 28 as a starter when their roles were reversed in a 124-106 home win over the Pelicans last month that kicked off a two-game series at the same venue.
Hield (21 points) returned to the bench for the rematch, a 104-89 Golden State victory that allowed them to complete a sweep without Curry, who was nursing a strained left ankle.
