Pelicans rout Stephen Curry and Warriors to cut series deficit.
Pelicans’ rout raises questions about champs
NEW ORLEANS — In the second half Friday night, as his team surged to a big lead in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Smoothie King Center, New Orleans head coach Alvin Gentry waited for one of the Warriors’ signature rallies.
“They’re just a scary team,” said Gentry, who was Golden State’s associate head coach for the team that won the 2015 NBA title. “You’re never comfortable.”
That the Warriors didn’t seriously threaten after falling behind by more than 20 points midway through the third quarter raised important ques-
tions: In the wake of its 119-100 loss in Game 3, can Golden State rediscover its mojo in time for Game 4 on Sunday? Was Friday’s shellacking a one-night blip or a sign of something more troubling?
Three nights after Stephen Curry poured in 28 points in his first game since spraining his MCL on March 23, Curry could not settle into a rhythm, finishing with 19 points on 6-for-19 shooting. The Warriors’ movement-heavy system gave way to repeated isolation plays as they dished out only one more assist than New Orleans point guard Rajon Rondo’s 21.
After cutting a 15-point deficit to six by halftime, Golden State gave up a 21-7 run to open the third quarter. Rondo found Anthony Davis (33 points, 18 rebounds, four steals), Nikola Mirotic (16 points, 13 rebounds), Jrue Holiday (21 points, seven rebounds) and Ian Clark (18 points on 7-for-11 shooting) for numerous wide-open looks as the Pelicans brought some intrigue to a series many had given them little chance of pushing to even five games.
New Orleans arrived at Smoothie King Center staring down the possibility of a 3-0 series deficit, which no team in NBA history has overcome. Now, with Game 4 less than 48 hours away, the Pelicans have ensured a trip back to Oakland for Game 5. A similarly inspired performance Sunday could be enough to even the series at 2-2.
“Obviously, it was no fun,” said Warriors guard Klay Thompson, who scored 20 of his team-high 26 points in the second quarter. “They did whatever they wanted . ... We have to come back on Sunday and make them more uncomfortable, because they were way too comfortable.”
Curry returned to the starting lineup Friday after coming off the bench in Game 2. Head coach Steve Kerr moved Nick Young to the bench and started JaVale McGee, in part to utilize McGee’s ability to run the floor and catch lobs.
It didn’t go as planned. Multiple times within the first several minutes, McGee attacked the key, only to mishandle lobs. By early in the second quarter, the Warriors trailed 36-21.
With Curry, Thompson and Kevin Durant missing shots they normally make, Golden State struggled to silence a raucous crowd. Davis stepped to the foul line late in the third quarter to “M-V-P” chants. Several times in the second half, the crowd gave the Pelicans a standing ovation.
Kerr pulled his four All-Stars with 4:59 left. Still worried that the Warriors would unleash a game-changing run, Gentry waited more than a minute to sit his starters.
“I thought they brought the force — the necessary force — to the game on their home floor,” Kerr said of the Pelicans. “These are the ebbs and flows of a playoff series, especially when you get past the first round.”