Mighty Warriors take command of series
Durant dominates with 38 points as Golden State takes 3-1 edge over Pelicans
NEW ORLEANS Kevin Durant made his approach to taking over a pivotal NBA playoff game sound so simple — and look that way, too.
“I just try to tell myself that I’m at my best when I don’t care what happens after the game, the outcome or anything,” Durant said.
“That’s when I’m free and having fun out there, and forceful. That was the thing — just try to play with force no matter if I missed shots or not, just keep shooting, keep being aggressive.”
Durant scored Golden State’s first two baskets on pull-up jumpers of 21 and 15 feet before a minute-and-a-half had elapsed in Game 4 of the Warriors’ Western Conference semifinal series against New Orleans on Sunday.
He finished with 38 points on 15-of-27 shooting to go with nine rebounds as Golden State soundly defeated the Pelicans 118-92 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead back to the West Coast.
Warriors guard Stephen Curry said it was apparent early that getting the ball to Durant would be wise.
“Just find ways to get him in scoring positions,” Curry said.
“Sometimes, that’s not really hard to do — just throw it to him.
“Just keep the game simple at that point because he’s such a great scorer, you don’t have to really overthink things.”
The Warriors lost by 19 in Game 3 Friday and the Pelicans were looking to even the series.
Instead, the Warriors responded with a resounding effort that produced a wire-to-wire win with leads as large as 26 points.
Curry scored 23, Klay Thompson added 13 and Quinn Cook, who was a Pelicans reserve earlier this season, contributed 12 points.
Anthony Davis had 26 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans, but the Pelicans hit only 36 per cent (32 of 88) of their shots, missing 22 of 26 3-point attempts.
Just keep the game simple at that point because he’s such a great scorer, you don’t have to really overthink things.
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said Golden State’s defence “had a lot to do with” the Pelicans’ poor shooting.
“We didn’t have the looks we normally have,” he said.
“We pressed a little bit when we got behind.”
E’Twaun Moore scored 20 and Jrue Holiday 19, but New Orleans reserves combined for just 14 points after scoring 32 two nights earlier.
The series returns to Oakland, Calif., for Game 5 on Tuesday night.