November 23rd 2024.
The Warriors have been dominating the NBA Cup group stage, currently holding the top spot. With an impressive record of 3-0, they are just one game away from securing a spot in the knockout round. All they need is for the Nuggets to lose to the Mavericks on Friday night.
In their most recent game against the Pelicans, the Warriors didn't have an easy win. Despite their opponents being shorthanded, the Warriors had to fight hard to secure a 112-108 victory. It all came down to the wire, with Pelicans' Trey Murphy III missing a potential game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds.
Andrew Wiggins continued his impressive performance from their previous game against the Hawks, scoring a game-high 30 points on 9-for-14 shooting. The Warriors have been dominant against teams with sub-.500 records, with a record of 7-0, and have also been strong on the road with a 7-1 record away from home.
After the game, Brandin Podziemski expressed the team's determination to win the NBA Cup championship and earn the bonus that comes with it. The Pelicans, on the other hand, were without five of their top players due to injuries, including Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray.
Despite their depleted lineup, the Pelicans put up a good fight against the Warriors. Murphy, Ingram, Green, Payton, and Theis made up their starting lineup and kept the game close. Wiggins, however, proved to be too much for them to handle, scoring 13 of the Warriors' first 23 points and starting the game with a perfect 5-for-5 shooting.
But the Pelicans weren't ready to give up just yet. Murphy's impressive performance, scoring 15 points in his first 11 minutes, kept them in the game. They even went on a 13-0 run in the second quarter to take the lead.
Despite the Warriors' strong offense, their defense struggled, allowing the Pelicans to score many points in the paint. This kept the game close, with the Pelicans leading 63-62 at halftime. The Warriors' bench, known for their high-scoring, even got outscored by the Pelicans' third-string players in the first half.
In the third quarter, rookie Moses Moody stepped up for the Warriors, giving them a much-needed boost on both ends of the court. However, they couldn't quite pull away from the Pelicans.
Podziemski, who had a solid game but struggled with his 3-point shooting, missed a clean look at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, when Stephen Curry returned to the game, the Warriors had a slim lead of six points. But the Pelicans quickly closed the gap with a dunk from Trayce Jackson-Davis and a defensive stop.
As the game came down to the wire, the Warriors had to rely on their key players to secure the win. With Curry, Wiggins, Payton II, and Green on the court, they were able to hold onto their lead. However, turnovers and missed free throws from both teams kept the game within reach for the Pelicans.
In the end, the Warriors emerged victorious with a final score of 112-108. Although margin of victory is crucial in NBA Cup play, it didn't matter as much for the Warriors, who remain the only team in their group with a perfect 3-0 record.
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