Warriors beat Pelicans for first win of the season

NEW ORLEANS — Warriors forward Draymond Green faked a dribble handoff at the top of the arc to Stephen Curry, then darted past New Orleans Pelicans center Jahlil Okafor for an open layup. And 11 seconds into their third game, the Warriors had their first lead of the season, and one they would not give up.

Things seemingly came easy after that in route to the Warriors’ (1-2) first win of the season, a 134-123 victory over the Pelicans (0-4) Monday at Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans. The Warriors effort was led by Curry and Green, who established their dynamic two-man game early, after which everything else fell into place.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s decision to start a small-ball lineup with Green at center helped refresh a previously hapless offense. Curry turned in his most vintage performance of the season — 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting and 4-of-10 from 3-point range and 11 assists. In the second quarter, Curry made a 29-foot shot falling down, which may have been the best indication that the offense was finally humming.

Green posted a triple-double with 16 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists. It was his best performance of the season, as he bodied up Pelicans centers defensively and pushed the ball in transition. The dribble handoff to Curry was a pet play all of Monday night.

The Warriors cited a lack of continuity for the two blowout losses to start the season, and their solution was to turn to Curry and Green’s familiar two-man game. Teammates played off of a series of dribble handoffs and pick-and-rolls.

Rookie guard Jordan Poole made three-consecutive 3-pointers in the first quarter and forward Glenn Robinson III chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds. Two-way forward Damion Lee finished with a 23 point, 11 rebound double-double off the bench and forward Omari Spellman posted eight points and eight rebounds.

Kerr continued to stagger the minutes of Curry and guard D’Angelo Russell. When Curry was on the bench, Russell led the offense, and finished with 24 points and eight assists.

The Pelicans were paced by forward Brandon Ingram, who had 27 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes. Rookie forward Jaxson Hayes scored 19 points in his NBA debut.

Next, the Warriors will return to San Francisco to play the Phoenix Suns Wednesday.