November 9, 2026 at 4:46 AM UTC

Pregame Analysis

Warriors Look to Extend Their Surge Against a Shorthanded Pelicans Team

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Golden State's hot streak and Stephen Curry's form give it the edge over a New Orleans team coming off a fourth-quarter collapse.

This page is the pregame analysis. The box score is the main page for the game, and the matchup history collects every meeting between these teams.

Stephen Curry arrives at the end of Golden State's six-game homestand with a new record. He passed LeBron James for the most 40-point games after age 35, scoring 41 in the 126-119 win over Orlando, and he is averaging 29.9 points. The Warriors have climbed from an 0-3 start to a winning streak of at least seven games, and they were 4-1 at Chase Center before this one. Curry's scoring has anchored that turnaround.

The supporting cast is the more interesting story. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 11 pick, is averaging 21 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists through nine games, and he scored a career-high 37 against the Clippers. That gives Golden State a second scoring option beyond Curry. The depth is still thin. Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody are out, and Kristaps Porziņģis is away from the team to prioritize his health. Draymond Green, Gary Payton II and Gui Santos were questionable for the Orlando game, and their status here is unclear. Green's availability matters most, since he organizes the defense and often plays center.

New Orleans comes in at 4-4 after a 115-109 loss to Minnesota. The Pelicans led by two entering the fourth quarter and were outscored 38-30 in the period. Yves Missi is out with a knee injury, which takes away a rotation big man. If Green is available for Golden State, that absence could make it harder for New Orleans to protect the paint and finish tight games.

I expect Golden State to ride Curry's form, Lendeborg's production and its home record. The Pelicans should keep it competitive for three quarters, but the Warriors' recent closing ability gives them the edge. Prediction: Warriors 119, Pelicans 111.

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