NEW ORLEANS — Behind a first-time starting lineup, the Warriors on Sunday reeled off a 118-92 victory over New Orleans in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals that leaves them one win from advancing to the conference finals.
Four Warriors scored in double figures, led by 38 points from Kevin Durant. Stephen Curry put in 23 points, Klay Thompson 13 and Quinn Cook added 12 off the bench.
The Warriors starting lineup featured Andre Iguodala joining Draymond Green, Durant, Thompson and Curry. Though the group, often referred to as the Death Lineup or Hamptons 5, often plays together, it had never started as a unit.
The move worked, particularly on defense, as the Pelicans shot 28.6 percent in the first quarter and 36.4 percent for the game.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
Durant threw relentless scoring blows that went unanswered, and Green did pretty much everything the Warriors needed him to do.
Durant’s line: 38 points (14-of-26 shooting from the field, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, 6-of-6 from the line), nine rebounds and five assists. He played 36 minutes and finished plus-23.
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Green’s line: 6 points (2-of-8 shooting, 2-of-4 from deep), nine rebounds, nine assists, four steals, two blocks and demonic defense on Anthony Davis and any other Pelican within range. Green played 37 minutes and finished a team-best plus-28.
TURNING POINT
The Warriors never trailed.
Opening the game with a vengeance, the Warriors took control early with leads of 17-4 and 27-10. They took a 37-22 lead into the second quarter and were up 61-54 at the half.
The Warriors then crushed any hope of a New Orleans comeback by opening the third quarter with a 10-2, taking a 71-56 lead with 9:56 left in the quarter. The Pelicans got no closer than 13 after that.
INJURY UPDATE
Warriors: G Pat McCaw (lumbar spine contusion) was listed as out.
Pelicans: C Alexis Ajinca (R knee injury), DeMarcus Cousins (L Achilles rupture) and G Frank Jackson (R foot fracture) were listed as out.
WHAT’S NEXT
Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday night at 7:35 p.m. at Oracle Arena. Pregame coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 5 o’clock, with postgame coverage immediately after the final horn of the TNT telecast.
