Golden State Warriors Hang On to Win Playoff Opener

The Golden State Warriors started the postseason with a bang, but wound up just hanging on to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 105-99 in Game 1 on Saturday afternoon.

The final score was a lot closer down the stretch than it was for the majority of the game, as the Pelicans made a late push to claw within single digits as Anthony Davis went on a hot streak scoring 12 straight points at one juncture.

Davis finished with a game-high 35 points, willing his team back into the game.

But New Orleans ran out of time; a 16-point Golden State lead at the start of the fourth quarter was too much to overcome despite outscoring the Warriors 33-22 in the final frame.

The Pelicans cut the lead down to 103-99 with nine seconds to play, but it was too little too late. The Warriors struggled from the foul line all game, particularly down the stretch, giving the Pelicans a slimmer of hope.

However, Stephen Curry‘s hot start — he finished with 34 points in all — along with Klay Thompson‘s 21 was enough to earn the Warriors a win to kick off the postseason.

The Warriors maintained their large lead in the third quarter. An open three from the left corner by Andre Iguodala put the Warriors up 69-46 midway through.

But the Pelicans narrowed a 25-point lead down to just 11 with a 14-0 run stretching from the third to the fourth quarter. The Pelicans scored the first seven points of the fourth, and a basket by Anthony Davis cut the advantage to 84-73.

The Warriors responded, as Curry and Thompson both knocked down threes to push the lead back up to 90-73.

After falling behind 4-0, the Warriors woke up the Oracle crowd with seven straight points, capped off with a Curry three that brought the house down.

The Warriors held the Pelicans to just 13 points in the first quarter, the best defensive quarter in franchise playoff history. They ended the quarter on a 10-2 run and took a 28-13 lead into the second quarter.

For all the worry about the Warriors not being able to score inside, Golden State got to the rim at will, streaking in for layups and dunks. They outscored the Pelicans 36-18 in points in the paint.

Eight straight points by the Pelicans to start the second quarter was negated by six consecutive by Thompson — a three-point play followed by a three. New Orleans, however, cut the lead down to five at 44-39 midway through the second on a three by Quincy Pondexter.

That, in essence, woke up the Warriors once and for all. They ended the half on a 15-2 run to push the lead up to 18, highlighted by a ridiculous and-one, left-handed reverse layup by Curry off the glass.

Curry had 19 points at the half, and every starter with the exception of Draymond Green was in double-digits at halftime. To contrast, Davis was the only Pelicans’ player in double-digits with 11 points.

Tale of the Tape

Warriors

• Field-goal percentage: 45.7% (37-81)
• Three-point percentage: 37.9% (11-29)
• Rebounds: 47
• Assists: 24
• Turnovers: 15

Pelicans

• Field-goal percentage: 42.2% (35-83)
• Three-point percentage: 40.9% (9-22)
• Rebounds: 44
• Assists: 24
• Turnovers: 14

Good to Know

What’s on Tap

Game 2 is Monday night at 7:30 PM PST.