SAN FRANCISCO — In an impressive display, Buddy Hield led the charge with a season-high scoring of 28 points, while Brandin Podziemski added 19 points to aid the Golden State Warriors in a remarkable comeback victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, winning 124-106 on Tuesday evening.
Zion Williamson shone for the Pelicans, achieving a season-best of 31 points on an efficient 12-for-20 shooting, along with grabbing eight rebounds. Brandon Ingram also contributed significantly, adding 30 points to the scoreboard.
Jonathan Kuminga, who had started the previous three games but was struggling with an average of only 8.0 points on a shooting percentage of 33.3%, made a notable impact off the bench with 17 points. Additionally, reserve player Lindy Waters III enjoyed his best outing yet for the Warriors, finishing with 21 points and nine rebounds.
Due to injuries affecting key players, the depleted Warriors were in dire need of contributions from everyone on the roster. Star player Stephen Curry sat out due to a sprained left ankle sustained during the second half of a previous game against the Clippers. His condition will be assessed again on Friday. Andrew Wiggins, along with De’Anthony Melton, was also unavailable because of lower back strains. Coach Steve Kerr categorized Wiggins as questionable for the upcoming rematch against New Orleans on Wednesday at Chase Center.
In terms of team statistics, the Pelicans held a significant advantage on the boards, boasting a 44-34 rebounding edge after their dominance in the initial quarter. Meanwhile, the Warriors made crucial improvements, reducing their turnovers to just eight after committing 21 in the previous game. Golden State also managed to force New Orleans into committing 23 turnovers, which led to 31 points, highlighted by 14 steals. Despite a troubled start where they shot 5 for 23 in the first quarter— including a dismal 2 of 13 from beyond the arc, the Warriors rallied back from an early deficit of 31-14.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Podziemski tied the score with a 3-pointer with 8:22 remaining in the third quarter. Following his successful shot, he scored again on the ensuing possession, propelling the Warriors into a 71-67 lead that they maintained for the remainder of the match. He also made his defensive mark with two blocked shots.
In an impressive turnaround, Hield, who returned to the starting lineup after a sluggish home debut where he only managed to connect on 1 out of 9 three-point attempts for a total of eight points, bounced back strongly by sinking seven 3-pointers.