The Golden State Warriors secured a dominant 138-87 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night, marking their eighth consecutive win of the season. This blowout represents the largest margin of victory for any team in the current NBA campaign and stands as the fourth-largest win in Warriors franchise history. Conversely, the result was the biggest loss in the Pelicans' team history, capping a night where New Orleans was outmatched from the opening tip.
Stephen Curry contributed 25 points in just over 20 minutes of play, shooting six of his ten attempts from the field, including four three-pointers. His performance followed a high-scoring 41-point outing in Saturday's overtime win against Orlando. Curry also achieved a significant individual milestone by passing DeMar DeRozan for 16th place on the NBA's all-time career scoring list, reaching a total of 26,803 points.
Yaxel Lendeborg provided a substantial offensive presence for Golden State, recording 23 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Brandin Podziemski also added 25 points, helping the Warriors achieve a team total of 37 assists. This marked the third consecutive game in which the Warriors recorded at least 30 assists, a statistical feat they have accomplished five times in their last six matchups. The team is undefeated in games where they reach this assist threshold.
The Warriors established a commanding lead early in the contest, finishing the first quarter ahead 35-20. New Orleans struggled offensively, shooting just 7 of 23 from the field and missing 10 of their 12 three-point attempts. The gap widened to 23 points early in the second quarter, aided by a quick scoring burst from Podziemski. The Pelicans trailed 72-43 at halftime, making a comeback unlikely.
In a lighthearted moment, injured guard Jimmy Butler, who is recovering from right knee surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament, dressed as a member of the coaching staff. He held a clipboard with the message "PASS TO STEPH" written on it. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr explained that he had recently joked with assistant coach Khalid Robinson about dressing Butler in coaching gear, only for Butler to appear in a matching outfit without prior coordination.
Kerr noted that Butler acted the part of a coach, discussing team fouls and other game details, while also playfully mocking the staff. Lendeborg shared his own perspective on Butler's sideline advice, stating that he learned to simply give the ball to Curry. The former Michigan star also joked that Butler had threatened to get a technical foul for the team but did not follow through.
For the Pelicans, Derik Queen led the bench with 16 points, while Dejounte Murray contributed 12. New Orleans has now lost three straight games after previously winning four in a row. The team rested key players Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III following their previous road loss to the Clippers, with Murphy managing knee issues after scoring 26 points in that contest.
The Warriors' current eight-game winning streak comes after a 0-3 start to the season, making it the second-longest such streak in NBA history. The previous record was set by the 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks, who won 12 straight games after starting 0-4. This victory also represents the Warriors' largest home win since November 2, 1991, and their biggest margin of victory since April 9, 2023.
Other contributors for Golden State included Charles Bassey, who provided 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, and De'Anthony Melton, who scored 16 points including four three-pointers. After the game, Lendeborg and Pelicans guard Jordan Poole, both former University of Michigan players, traded jerseys in a display of mutual respect.
