GSW
The
A historic night of dominance
The contest was effectively decided early as the Warriors established a 35-20 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Pelicans, who struggled with their shooting throughout the night, managed only 7 of 23 from the field in the opening period and missed 10 of their 12 attempts from beyond the arc. By halftime, the deficit had ballooned to 72-43, marking the largest loss in the history of the New Orleans franchise.
Golden State’s offensive efficiency was highlighted by their ball movement, as the team recorded 37 assists. This marked the third consecutive game in which the Warriors reached at least 30 assists, maintaining their perfect 6-0 record in games where they hit that mark this season. De'Anthony Melton added 16 points, including four successful 3-pointers, while Charles Bassey provided a double-double off the bench with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Context and injury updates
For the Pelicans, Derik Queen led the bench scoring with 16 points, while Dejounte Murray added 12. The team was significantly depleted, opting to rest Zion Williamson following their loss to the Clippers the previous night, while Trey Murphy III was sidelined to manage knee issues. The loss marks the third consecutive defeat for New Orleans following a brief four-game winning streak.
The victory was not without a setback for the Warriors, as the team announced that second-year guard Will Richard suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb. The organization stated that Richard will evaluate his options over the coming week to determine whether he requires surgery or can continue playing with a splint. Despite the injury, the Warriors continue to build momentum after an 0-3 start to the season. Their current eight-game winning streak is the second-longest in NBA history for a team that began a campaign with three or more consecutive losses, trailing only the 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks, who won 12 straight after an 0-4 start.