The Pelicans vs Warriors Monday matchup opens a season series between two teams trending in opposite directions. Golden State has won seven straight games and sits 7-3, while New Orleans arrives at 4-5 after dropping its most recent outing. Tipoff at Chase Center in San Francisco is set for 10 p.m. ET, with the Warriors looking to extend their streak and the Pelicans trying to snap a one-game skid.
Pelicans Vs Warriors Game Information
- Date: Monday, Nov. 9
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- Venue: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
- TV/Streaming: NBA TV, GCSEN, Pelicans.com
- Series: Season series begins Nov. 9
How Have Both Teams Been Playing
Golden State’s win streak is the longest active run in the NBA entering Monday. The Warriors have beaten the Lakers, Clippers, Suns, Heat and, most recently, the Magic 126-119 in overtime on Sunday. That stretch has them a game and a half behind the Lakers atop the Pacific Division at .700.
New Orleans had won four straight, including overtime victories over Memphis and Utah, before the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Pelicans 115-109 on Nov. 7. That loss dropped New Orleans to fourth in the Southwest Division, 3.5 games behind division-leading San Antonio.
What Injuries Will Shape The Matchup
Golden State is dealing with a thin frontcourt. Jimmy Butler III (right knee surgery) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) are both out, with Porzingis not expected back until Jan. 2 and Butler on a similar return timeline. Moses Moody (left knee surgery) is also out, with a projected return date of Dec. 1. Guard Will Richard is out with a left thumb injury, while forward Gui Santos is listed day-to-day with left knee tendinitis.
New Orleans is missing center Yves Missi, who is out with a left knee bruise. His absence leaves Derik Queen, the team’s leading rebounder at 7.4 per game, as the likely starter at center against a Warriors frontcourt already shorthanded by injury.
Who Are The Expected Starters
With Butler, Porzingis, Moody and Richard sidelined, the Warriors are expected to lean heavily on Stephen Curry, who leads the team at 31.2 points per game, and Draymond Green, who paces Golden State with 7.8 assists per game. Yaxel Lendeborg is projected to see extended frontcourt minutes as the team’s leading rebounder at 7.2 per game.
For New Orleans, Zion Williamson is the engine of the offense, averaging 20.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game. Dejounte Murray is expected to run the point after leading the team with 5.3 assists per game, and Queen is projected to start at center in Missi’s absence.
Key Matchup To Watch
Golden State’s three-point shooting against New Orleans’ turnover-forcing defense stands out as the clearest swing factor. The Warriors shoot 39.5% from three, the kind of volume and accuracy that can offset their rebounding disadvantage, while the Pelicans rank among the league’s more disruptive defenses at 11.8 steals per game. If New Orleans can turn Golden State’s perimeter possessions into live-ball turnovers, it can limit Curry’s catch-and-shoot looks. If the Warriors protect the ball, their shooting efficiency becomes difficult for a Pelicans frontcourt missing Missi to handle inside.
New Orleans also holds a rebounding edge on the defensive glass, 33.4 to 31.1, a number that matters more with Golden State already down three frontcourt rotation pieces in Butler, Porzingis and Moody.
What To Watch
Golden State’s seven-game winning streak has kept the Warriors within shouting distance of the Lakers in the Pacific Division, and another win would push the streak to eight entering a stretch where Butler and Porzingis remain out indefinitely. New Orleans, meanwhile, is trying to avoid a second straight loss after a four-game run that included two overtime wins, and a victory would keep the Pelicans within range of the Southwest Division’s middle tier behind San Antonio, Houston and Memphis.
New Orleans continues to lean on its depth with Queen stepping into a larger role, a trend worth tracking after his performance in the overtime win over Memphis. The Pelicans will also look to rebound from their loss detailed in the recap of the Timberwolves game. Golden State’s recent form follows a similar track to its matchup covered in the Warriors vs. Nuggets preview.
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