October 30, 2024; San Francisco, California, United States; Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) dribbles against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) during the first quarter at Chase Middle. Mandatory credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Photographs
Buddy Hield scored 21 points to lead six scorers in double figures, Brandin Podziemski nearly had a triple-double as Stephen Curry’s replacement, and the Golden State Warriors pulled away from the visiting New Orleans Pelicans for a 104-89 victory on Wednesday.
Podziemski, who had not started any of Golden State’s first three games until Curry sprained his left ankle on Sunday, had 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. He had 19 points and five assists in his first start on Tuesday.
Trayce Jackson-Davis added 15 points and nine rebounds, while Jonathan Kuminga scored 16 points, Draymond Green 14 and Kyle Anderson 10 for Golden State, which took the opener of the two-day, two-game series 124-106.
Inexperienced also found time for six assists, four rebounds and five blocks in 30 minutes.
Jordan Hawkins scored a game-high 23 points for New Orleans, which completed a six-day, four-game western swing with a 1-3 record.
Unlike Tuesday, when the Pelicans built a 20-point lead, the Warriors went up by 20 this time, using early outbursts in the third and fourth quarters to open up what had been a four-point game at halftime.
Two Brandon Ingram free throws put the visitors within 48-46 in the first minute of the third period, before Jackson-Davis hit three hoops and Inexperienced hit a 3-pointer in an 11-0 run that opened up a 13-point lead. .
Golden State took a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter, then scored 12 of the period’s first 17 points to create a 91-71 cushion with seven minutes left.
Hield scored most of his goals from beyond the 3-point arc, going 4 of 12 from deep. Golden State outscored the visitors 39-33 on three-pointers.
Jackson-Davis was 7 of 9 and Anderson hit all four of his attempts from the field, helping the Warriors shoot 47.1 percent as a team.
The Pelicans finished with just 36.7 percent. Even leading scorer Hawkins was only 9 of 21.
Zion Williamson grabbed 12 rebounds to go along with 12 points for New Orleans. José Alvarado scored 16 points and Ingram 14 and six assists.
–Media at field level