The Golden State Warriors are a threat in this final stretch of the season. In case it was not clear with Stephen Curry on the track, last night his teammates claimed their role in the good game of the team by Steve Kerr with an exhibition without the star on the track. Willy Hernangómez’s 125-122 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans confirmed the excellent form from Jordan Poole and Mychal Mulder.
Poole came away with 38 points, his best scoring mark in the NBA, and handed down the sentence with a layup with 21 seconds to go that put his team ahead. Then he finished the game with two free throws in the absence of a second to go. He added 4 rebounds and 6 assists to his display, which included a scare after a sprained ankle.
The victory, their fifth in a row, allows those of the Bay to continue rowing from the eighth position of the West despite Memphis Grizzlies pressure, who also beat the Sacramento Kings last night and keep the pulse for play the first game of the play-in until the last match day of the regular season.
Everything indicates that there will be some Los Angeles Lakers they need a carom with the Portland Trail Blazers. The duel between Curry and LeBron would be a bombshell and a welcome relief for the NBA’s dwindling audiences in this pandemic course.
Poole’s costume convinced and also encouraged other colleagues to join the party. Mychal Mulder also posted his best record in the league with 28 points.. Kent Bazemore, with 14 points, he complemented his teammates in the typical quintet and Eric Paschall (12 and Nico Mannion (11) contributed the annotation of the bench.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, with 30 points, put New Orleans on the verge of victory with a basket to get 25 seconds ahead of the conclusion of a very even game marked by the losses of both teams: in addition to Curry, Green, Wiggins, Williamson and Ingram failed, all they afflicted by physical discomfort.
Naji marshall, with 20 points, and Kira lewis jr., at 19, were the other two most prominent players for Stan Van Gundy’s team. The Madrilenian Willy Hernangómez, which has gained prominence in the final stretch of the course, finished with 10 points, 9 rebounds and an assist in 24 minutes of play (5-9 TC).
The Warriors went full blast and scored 41 points in the first quarter, the best of the whole season. At rest they dominated by a clear 75-57 but the Pelicans knew how to react and equalize the contest in the second half.
On Sunday afternoon, the Warriors say goodbye to their regular season with a direct duel with the Memphis Grizzlies to decide who takes the eighth place to play the play-in tournament with more advantage.
The Pelicans, meanwhile, close their season against the Lakers.