The injury-hit Golden State Warriors will again be reliant on role players when they travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans on Tuesday.
Golden State pulled off a surprise 128-117 victory over the Denver Nuggets in San Francisco on Sunday, despite going into the clash severely short-handed.
Stephen Curry (right knee), Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Draymond Green (back soreness) joined Jimmy Butler (torn right ACL) in street clothes, depriving the Warriors of a combined 23 All-Star Game appearances and nine championships.
Moses Moody (23 points), Al Horford (22) and De’Anthony Melton (20) all stepped up in the absence of so much key personnel, but the real standout was Brandin Podziemski.
Coming off the bench, Podziemski narrowly missed his maiden NBA triple-double, racking up 18 points, a career-best 15 rebounds and nine assists.
Podziemski poured in 12 points in the last 5:38, his all-around brilliance was pivotal in Golden State coming from behind to out-score Denver 33-16 in the final period.
“It was phenomenal,” Kerr said of Podziemski’s fourth-quarter exploits. “I think he had eight rebounds in the quarter, hit a couple of big shots — he was brilliant. We needed it, because obviously (in the) third quarter, they took it to us.”
“He’s a really confident guy who wants the ball. He wants the big shot. But like every player, he needs the rhythm. He needs the flow of the game, and he can help himself. It’s one of the things we’re trying to teach him. He can help himself by actually getting off the ball earlier in a possession and then getting it back. And at times he wants to make the play from the outset, and that’s a lot to do. He’s still learning and growing, but that was a fantastic night.”
Podziemski is relishing the extra playmaking minutes that have been forcibly thrown his way with Curry’s absence over the past seven games.
He feels comfortable being a primary ball-handler and doesn’t overthink it.
“I just do what the game calls for,” Podziemski said. “My IQ for the game and knowing things has gotten me this far. The worst thing you can do is go out there and second-guess your decisions, then it looks even worse. I just go out there and play the game.”
The Pelicans had some key injuries themselves that they had to overcome to down the Philadelphia 76ers 126-111 in New Orleans on Saturday.
Former Warrior Jordan Poole came off the bench for 23 points and five assists without a turnover, Zion Williamson added 21 points, and Saddiq Bey contributed 20, as the Pelicans steamrolled the Sixers 69-46 after halftime.
“He made mature plays, decisive plays, (and) simple plays,” interim New Orleans coach James Borrego said of Poole. We know he’s an elite scorer who can get hot at any moment. The shot making was phenomenal — we’ve seen it. That’s the edge we’re looking for — the decision making: not turning the ball over, making the simple pass … he was very poised, controlled.”
Trey Murphy III, the Pelicans’ leading scorer this season, averaging 22.1 points per game, was sidelined with a right shoulder contusion, while Yves Missi missed the game with a strained left calf.
Both are in the mix to return against Golden State, as could Dejounte Murray, who has been out for more than a year with a torn right Achilles.
“Based on what happened (Saturday), Dejounte could potentially come back on Tuesday,” Borrego said. “We’ll see where Murphy’s at, where Messi’s at, and we’ll make some decisions.”
