The Golden State Warriors have done something no NBA team had ever pulled off before: after dropping their first three games, they’ve ripped off eight straight wins.
That run hit its peak Monday night in a 138-87 blowout of the New Orleans Pelicans, a game that was over early and never got close. Golden State moved to 8-3 with the victory and finished a perfect five-game homestand, turning an ugly opening week into a piece of league history.
The Warriors set the tone right away, jumping out to a 35-20 lead after the first quarter. By halftime, they had stretched that margin to 72-43, and New Orleans never seriously threatened to make it a game.
Brandin Podziemski and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg led the scoring with 25 points apiece, while Stephen Curry added 25 in fewer than 21 minutes. Lendeborg was especially efficient, going 8-for-10 from the field and adding seven rebounds and four assists. Twelve of the 13 Warriors who played scored, a reminder that this surge has been built on more than just Curry carrying the load.
Still, Curry remains the center of everything Golden State does. He entered Monday averaging 31.3 points per game, second in the NBA, and had already poured in 41 points in Saturday’s overtime win over Orlando. At 38, he’s still forcing defenses to bend around him every trip down the floor, and that pressure keeps opening the door for everyone else.
Now comes the next part of the test. The Warriors are heading into a five-game road trip that starts Wednesday against the Houston Rockets, and they’ll also be keeping an eye on reserve guard Brandon Williams after he left Monday’s game with a left hamstring injury and is set for further evaluation.
The early-season mess is gone. What comes next is whether Golden State can keep this rolling once it leaves home.
In Other News...
Warriors Two-Way Depth Suddenly Has A New Roster Problem
Alex Tooheys path with the Warriors took an early detour when he was waived after getting only limited preseason opportunities, but he wasted little time making his case in Santa Cruz. In the G League clubs season opener, Toohey flashed the kind of all-around production that can keep a front office paying attention, finishing with 18 points along with rebounds and assists while reminding Golden State there is still some upside to monitor.
For a team already carrying Malevy Leons and LJ Cryer on two-way deals without much meaningful NBA run so far this season, Tooheys quick response adds a new layer to the roster conversation. The Warriors do not have to rush anything, but performances like this can change the calculus fast, and Tooheys showing puts him back in position to push for another shot at a two-way contract in the near future. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Blowout Came With A New Injury Concern Off The Bench
The Warriors lopsided win over the Pelicans still came with a bit of unease on the sideline, as Brandon Williams exited the game because of a left hamstring injury. Golden State said Williams will undergo an MRI, with an update on his status to follow, adding another layer of concern to a night that otherwise went smoothly on the scoreboard.
Williams has been in his first season with the Warriors and had already chipped in four points before leaving. For a bench unit that has been trying to provide steady minutes, any injury scare is worth watching, especially with the team still sorting out its depth and rotation as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Andrew Wiggins Is Raising A Familiar Concern For Warriors Fans
Andrew Wiggins rough start in Miami is the kind of development Warriors fans know all too well, even if it is happening in a different uniform. Heat coach Eric Spoelstra made the move to bench him in favor of Pelle Larson, a clear signal that Wiggins is already under pressure to settle in after a poor opening stretch.
Wiggins still logged nearly 32 minutes in the win over the Sacramento Kings, but the production was thin, with six points, three rebounds and one assist. If the early-season struggles continue, Miami could start looking at trade possibilities before the mid-season deadline, which is the sort of uncertainty that tends to follow Wiggins when his game slips out of rhythm. [Read more 🡒]