SAN FRANCISCO _ Looking up at a 20-point lead midway through the second quarter against the team with the second-worst record in the Western Conference, Golden State Warriors fans at Chase Center can't be blamed if they expected their team to come up with a long-awaited win.
In their 106-102 win over the Pelicans Friday at Chase Center, the Warriors (6-24) made it clear no lead is large enough for a team still learning how to win, but showed uncommon poise in a tight game down the stretch.
The Warriors this season have been one of the worst performing teams in crunch time. With nine players age 23 or younger, close games can be like Kryptonite. After recently allowing chances to win against the Knicks, Jazz and Trail Blazers slip away, the Warriors outscored the Pelicans (7-23) 13-4 in the final 2:13 to get the win.
Golden State's biggest lead came midway through the second quarter, when rookie guard Jordan Poole's free throws gave the Warriors a 20-point lead. However, Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday's 39-foot heave at the buzzer punctuated a 37-22 third-quarter advantage to give New Orleans their first lead of the game, 81-78, heading into the final frame.
At the start of the fourth quarter, center Kevon Looney bobbled a defensive rebound, which led to Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball recovering the loose ball and converting on a 3-pointer. Similarly sloppy play led to the Warriors' unraveling.
The Warriors committed 18 turnovers that led to 19 points for the Pelicans. At first, it looked like the Warriors were building on Wednesday's encouraging performance in Portland. The ball zipped around on offense as the Warriors made five 3-pointers and recorded 12 assists in the opening quarter.
After the Pelicans' 18-2 run cut the Warriors' lead to four in the second quarter, head coach Steve Kerr answered with a small-ball lineup _ putting Draymond Green at center _ that extended Golden State's lead to 12 at halftime. The Warriors led for the first 35 minutes.
Although when the zippy Warriors faded, they relied on guard D'Angelo Russell's one-on-one skills to pull out the win. Midway through the fourth quarter, Russell crossed over Holiday and found Alec Burks cutting baseline for a layup to cut the lead to one.
Russell's 3-pointer tied the game at 98 with a minute left, inspiring "WARRIORS" chants from the Chase Center crowd. Guard Damion Lee's free throws followed by a jumper from Russell finally gave the Warriors a cushion worthy of a win.
Russell finished with 25 points on 9-for-20 shooting (4-for-12 from 3-point range) and seven assists. Lee scored 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting (4-of-7 on 3-pointers) and six rebounds, while Burks added 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, eight rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Golden State entered the game with a full roster, minus Stephen Curry (left hand surgery) and Klay Thompson (left knee surgery). However, in the final minute of the first quarter, rookie forward Eric Paschall left the game after Pelicans' guard JJ Redick fell on onto his right knee. Paschall will undergo further evaluations for a right knee injury.
In a season when encouraging performances are often followed by setbacks, Friday's win was evidence of progress. After being out-scored 65-47 in the second and third quarters, the Warriors out-scored the Pelicans 28-21 when it mattered most, providing the rare moral victory to go along with one marked in the win column.
