Warriors beat Pelicans 138-87 to extend streak to eight

The Golden State Warriors dismantled the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night, winning 138-87 to claim their eighth consecutive victory. The 51-point margin is the largest for any team in the current NBA season. It also stands as the fourth-largest win in Warriors history. For New Orleans, the defeat marked the biggest loss in their franchise record.

The game followed a specific timeline of dominance. Golden State led 35-20 after the first quarter. The Pelicans shot 7 of 23 from the field and missed 10 of their 12 three-point attempts in that period. The lead grew to 23 points early in the second quarter after a scoring burst by Brandin Podziemski. The teams went to halftime with the Warriors ahead 72-43.

Stephen Curry played just over 20 minutes, scoring 25 points. He went 6 of 10 from the floor and made four three-pointers. This performance followed his 41-point game in Saturday's overtime win over Orlando. Curry also passed DeMar DeRozan to move into 16th place on the NBA all-time scoring list. His career total now stands at 26,803 points.

Yaxel Lendeborg contributed 23 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Podziemski added 25 points of his own. The Warriors recorded 37 assists as a team. This was their third straight game with at least 30 assists. They have reached that mark five times in their last six games. The Warriors are undefeated in those specific matchups.

Injuries and rest shaped the Pelicans' roster for the game. Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III sat out after a road loss to the Clippers. Murphy had managed knee issues after scoring 26 points in that contest. Derik Queen led New Orleans with 16 points from the bench. Dejounte Murray added 12. The Pelicans have now lost three straight after a four-game winning run.

A lighthearted moment occurred on the Warriors' sideline. Injured guard Jimmy Butler, who is recovering from right knee surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament, dressed as a member of the coaching staff. He held a clipboard that read PASS TO STEPH. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said he had joked with assistant coach Khalid Robinson about dressing Butler in coaching gear. Butler appeared in a matching outfit without prior coordination.

Kerr noted that Butler acted the part of a coach, discussing team fouls and other game details. He also playfully mocked the staff. Lendeborg said he learned to simply give the ball to Curry. The former Michigan star joked that Butler threatened to get a technical foul for the team but did not follow through.

Charles Bassey provided 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for Golden State. De'Anthony Melton scored 16 points, including four three-pointers. After the game, Lendeborg and Pelicans guard Jordan Poole traded jerseys. Both are former University of Michigan players. The win is the Warriors' largest home victory since November 2, 1991. It is also their biggest margin of victory since April 9, 2023.

This eight-game winning streak comes after the Warriors started the season 0-3. It is the second-longest such streak in NBA history. The previous record was set by the 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks, who won 12 straight games after starting 0-4.