Buddy Hield had 21 points to lead six scorers in double figures, Brandin Podziemski nearly recorded a triple-double as Stephen Curry’s replacement, and the Golden State Warriors pulled away from the visiting New Orleans Pelicans for a 104-89 victory Wednesday.
Podziemski, who hadn’t started any of Golden State’s first three games until Curry sprained his left ankle on Sunday, totaled 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. He had 19 points and five assists in his first start on Tuesday.
Trayce Jackson-Davis added 15 points and nine rebounds, while Jonathan Kuminga had 16 points, Draymond Green 14 and Kyle Anderson 10 for Golden State, which took the opener of the two-day, two-game series 124-106.
Green also found time for six assists, four rebounds and five blocks in 30 minutes.
Jordan Hawkins put up a game-high 23 points for New Orleans, which completed a six-day, four-game western swing with a 1-3 record.
Unlike Tuesday, when the Pelicans built a 20-point lead, the Warriors went up by 20 this time around, using spurts early in the third and fourth quarters to break open what had been a four-point game at halftime.
Two free throws by Brandon Ingram free throws got the visitors within 48-46 in the first minute of the third period, before Jackson-Davis had three hoops and Green a 3-pointer in an 11-0 burst that opened a 13-point advantage.
Golden State took a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter, then scored 12 of the period’s first 17 points to create a 91-71 cushion with seven minutes to play.
Hield did most of his scoring from beyond the 3-point arc, hitting 4 of 12 from deep. Golden State outscored the visitors 39-33 on 3-pointers.
Jackson-Davis shot 7-for-9 and Anderson hit all four of his attempts from the field, helping the Warriors shoot 47.1 percent as a team.
The Pelicans finished at just 36.7 percent. Even top scorer Hawkins went just 9-for-21.
Zion Williamson collected 12 rebounds to complement 12 points for New Orleans. Jose Alvarado had 16 points and Ingram 14 to go with six assists.
