GOLDEN State Warriors overcame the absence of its two key starters to defeat New Orleans Pelicans, 124-106, in the 2024-25 NBA season on Tuesday night (Wednesday in the Philippines) at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California.
Buddy Hield spearheaded the attack with a season-high of 28 points, including seven three-point conversions, while Lindy Waters III added 21 markers as the Warriors improved to a 3-1 record.
Brandin Podziemski added 19 points, while Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga ended with 17 apiece for the Warriors, which were without stars Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins due to injuries.
Down by double digits in the opening half, the Warriors slowly clawed their way back before taking a 71-67 advantage on back-to-back three-pointers by Podziemski.
The Warriors maintained aggression the rest of the way behind outside conversions from Hield, Waters, and Kuminga as the lead swelled to 18 points late in the game.
Zion Williamson top-scored for the Pelicans with a season-high of 31 points, while Brandon Ingram added 30 markers as they dropped to a 2-2 win-loss card.
Meanwhile, Nikola JokiÄ recorded a triple-double as Denver Nuggets scored a 144-139 overtime victory against Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
JokiÄ finished with 29 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists to go with one block as the Nuggets recorded its second consecutive victory for a 2-2 win-loss slate.
Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon added 24 markers apiece, Russell Westbrook chipped in a season-high of 22 markers, while Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun had 16 and 12, respectively.
Dennis Schröder had a double-double of 28 points and 14 assists, Cameron Thomas added 26 markers, while Cameron Johnson ended with 20 as the Nets dropped to 1-3./PN
BOX SCORE:
GOLDEN STATE 124 — Hield 28, Waters 21, Podziemski 19, Kuminga 17, Moody 17, Payton 7, Looney 4, Spencer 4, Green 3, Jackson-Davis 3, Anderson 1, Santos 0, Beekman 0.
NEW ORLEANS 106 — Williamson 31, Ingram 30, Missi 9, Alvarado 6, Jones 5, Theis 5, McCollum 5, Robinson-Earl 5, Hawkins 4, Cain 3, Green 3, Boston 0.
Quarterscores: 14-31, 47-51, 87-79, 124-106.
