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NEW ORLEANS — Warriors forward Draymond Green faked a dribble handoff at the top of the arc to Stephen Curry, then darted past New Orleans Pelicans center Jahlil Okafor for an open layup. And 11 seconds into their third game, the Warriors had their first lead of the season, and one they would not give up in route to their first win of the season.
Things came seemingly easy after that as the Warriors (1-2) went on to beat the Pelicans (0-4) 134-123 Monday at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans in a game they led by as many as 29 points. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said there was “more joy than relief” after earning their first win.
“I was just happy everyone went out there and played really well. Every guy came in off the bench and gave us good minutes. I loved the energy the whole night,” Kerr said. “So it was a really fun night.”
The Warriors effort was led by Curry and Green, who established their dynamic two-man game early, after which everything else fell into place. Kerr decided to start a small-ball lineup with Green at center, believing the Pelicans presented a matchup they could take advantage of. The decision helped refresh a previously hapless offense.
“I thought it gave us a good chance to get started early, open up the floor,” Kerr said. “Obviously when Draymond is in the middle of our offense as the fulcrum, he’s going to generate a lot of offense.”
Green posted a triple-double with 16 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists. It was his best performance of the season, as he bodied up Pelicans centers defensively and pushed the ball in transition. The dribble handoff to Curry was a pet play all of Monday night.
Curry turned in his most vintage performance of the season — 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting and 4-of-10 from 3-point range and 11 assists. In the second quarter, Curry made a 29-foot shot falling down, which may have been the best indication that the offense was finally humming. With more shooting on the floor, Curry spent the night scurrying around screens and finding space that resulted in more open looks.
“In the first two games we were on top of each other a lot. That’s kind of a tough vibe, especially with how me and Draymond play, trying to get into the gaps,” Curry said.
The Warriors cited a lack of continuity for the two blowout losses to start the season, and their solution was to turn to Curry and Green’s familiar two-man game. Teammates played off of a series of dribble handoffs and pick-and-rolls.
Rookie guard Jordan Poole made three-consecutive 3-pointers in the first quarter and forward Glenn Robinson III chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds. Two-way forward Damion Lee finished with a 23 point, 11 rebound double-double off the bench and forward Omari Spellman posted eight points and eight rebounds.
Kerr continued to stagger the minutes of Curry and guard D’Angelo Russell. When Curry was on the bench, Russell led the offense, and finished with 24 points and eight assists. He showed off his ability to play make and deliver creative passes on tough angles.
One one play in early in the third quarter while Russell and Curry shared the court, Russell lulled the Pelicans defense to a halt with a slow dribble then flung a fastball to a cutting Curry for an open layup. For a duo that has had trouble coalescing, it was a promising sample of what the partnership could be.
What a pass from D-Lo 👀 pic.twitter.com/rZn2GctMeY
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 29, 2019
“You try to build on that every game, try to build and see where you can get openings,” Russell said of the play. “Just make it easier for guys like that. He takes a lot of attention, so any way I can make it easier for him.”
The Pelicans were paced by forward Brandon Ingram, who had 27 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes. Rookie forward Jaxson Hayes scored 19 points in his NBA debut.
Next, the Warriors will return to San Francisco to play the Phoenix Suns Wednesday.
