The Warriors will conclude their most difficult travel week of the season Tuesday night when they face the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
The game will be the fifth in seven nights, in three different time zones, for the Warriors, who won three of the first four. The Warriors, at 21-4, own the best record in the NBA.
The Pelicans (8-17) have fought injuries ever since appearing in the 2015 playoffs, with wounded players missing 67 games, not including point guard Jrue Holiday’s 15-game absence to tend to a family medical matter.
This will be the third time the teams have met this season, with the Warriors winning both.
BETTING LINE
Warriors by 11
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MATCHUP TO WATCH
Draymond Green/Kevin Durant et al vs. Anthony Davis -- Davis knows the drill by now. He’ll see a lot of Green and Durant, and maybe a few others, including Andre Igoudala. Even with these fine defenders, Davis also can expect plenty of double-teams. The Warriors will try to force the ball out of his hands.
LAST 10
Warriors: 8-2. Pelicans: 3-7.
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: C Zaza Pachulia (R wrist contusion) is listed as out.
Pelicans: G Jrue Holiday (turf toe) is listed as probable. G Tyreke Evans (L calf strain/R knee soreness), F Quincy Pondexter (L knee rehab) and F Dante Cunningham (R fibula fracture) are listed as out.
SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors have won 15 of 16, including the last five in a row. They have won nine of the 10 played in New Orleans.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
1) Death of the Steph Slump? -- Stephen Curry is shooting 40.7 percent on the road trip, by his standard an extended stretch of poor shooting. He tends to torch the Pelicans, though, averaging 35.7 points over his last six games against them.
2) Let ‘em fire -- The Pelicans are attackers and thrive when they’re moving the ball and slashing into the paint. The Warriors would be wise to pack the paint and dare the Pels to launch from deep. They’re not good at this, ranking 28th in 3-point field-goal percentage.
3) Bring the fire -- Perhaps because they’re brimming with talent and confidence, the Warriors often victimize themselves with slow starts. That invites trouble. They can put this one away early if they can bring intensity and create first-quarter separation.
