NEW ORLEANS _ Just like in the closing moments in Phoenix or in Milwaukee last month or against the Hawks a couple weeks back, the Pelicans, with the game on the line, went at Draymond Green. And just like the previous three times, Green rose to the challenge, burned the opponent and sealed a narrow Warriors win.
The final in New Orleans: 113-109 Warriors over the Pelicans to close out a 4-1 road trip.
With mere seconds left, trailing by two, the Pelicans missed a free throw. But they got their own rebound. Then they kicked it out and found Anthony Davis, one of the game's most gifted players, isolted on the mid-post. But he was isolated on Green.
The Pelicans dumped it to Davis. The clocked ticked from 7 seconds to 6 to 5. Davis readied for his move. But before he could, Green bolted his hand to the ball, at risk of a foul, and cleanly swiped Davis. It bounced to the Warriors. Green, fouled moments later, would seal the game with two free throws.
For awhile, it looked like the Warriors may lose the game with a lack of defense. Playing a fifth road game in seven nights, the Warriors looked sluggish, giving up 35, 30 and 29 points the first three quarters.
But in the fourth, they stiffened up, holding the Pelicans to 15 total points and surviving with two highlights stops in the closing moments.
The first was also on Davis. With 34 seconds left, Davis sprung free on a dive cut for a layup that would've brought the Pelicans within one. But Kevin Durant (27 points) flew over from his help-side position and swatted it away to preserve the three-point lead.
He missed a dagger jumper on the next possession, giving the Pelicans another shot. But then Green's late defensive heroics, again, put the Pelicans away.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 30 points on 11-for-23 shooting.
Davis paced the Pelicans with 28 points.
