De'Anthony Melton opened up about the Warriors' tough loss to the Pelicans, a game that highlighted some challenges for Golden State. Despite being short-handed with only nine players available and facing the return of Dejounte Murray for the Pelicans, the Warriors struggled, especially on defense. Their paint defense has been a sore spot, and scoring just 39 points in the first half set them up for an uphill battle.
Melton was a bright spot, leading all scorers with a season-high 28 points. Impressively, he managed this feat in just 28 minutes as he continues to regain full strength following last season's ACL injury.
Reflecting on the game, Melton noted the Pelicans' defensive prowess, particularly their ability to switch and disrupt plays with length. He acknowledged, "They got some pretty good on-ball defenders out there that switch and had length.
Dejounte, Herb (Jones), it was great to see Dejounte come back, but them able to switch up top and mess with the ball troubled us a little bit. I feel like after a while, we were just missing shots.
I thought we got some good looks, the ball just didn't drop. I think sometimes, we turn down some looks, but that's basketball."
The stats back up Melton's observations. The Warriors shot just 41.2% from the field and 24.4% from three-point range. Melton himself was 3-10 from beyond the arc, with only Moses Moody joining him in making more than one three-pointer.
Melton's recovery from his ACL injury is progressing well. Although he won't play in the back-to-back against the Grizzlies, he's optimistic about participating in some of the Warriors' remaining back-to-backs this season.
"I feel good. I feel solid.
Taking it day-by-day. See how tomorrow holds up, see how my body holds up.
Keep chugging along. We're erring on the side of minute increase (first) to see how that feels, but definitely can't wait to finally get out there and just compete for my guys on both days."
Since his return in December 2025, Melton has been a crucial asset for the Warriors, boasting a +17.3 on/off net rating, the best on the team. As he continues to build up his minutes, the Warriors are eager to see more of what he can bring to the court.