With Zaza Pachulia missing his third straight game on Tuesday, JaVale McGee started for the first time this season.
He recorded nine points (4-for-5 shooting) and five rebounds in 16 minutes.
"Felt good," McGee told reporters after the Warriors' 113-109 win. "I was just trying to stay down on pump fakes, not get in foul trouble and just be a spark."
Warriors players and coaches have been praising McGee's presence and how teams have to take into account his ability to roll to the rim and finish lobs.
Against the Pelicans, McGee shot his first lob attempt from Steph Curry over the rim.
Midway through the first quarter he converted an alley-oop from Draymond Green, and got fouled on a lob from Draymond on the Warriors' next possession (he made one of two free throws).
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He rolled to the rim on Golden State's first possession of the second half and Curry found McGee for an easy uncontested dunk.
He converted his last attempt with 7:27 remaining in the third quarter when he slipped a screen, made a nice one-handed catch on a pass from Curry and finished in traffic.
"I remember the last play Steph passed to me, I almost missed it," McGee explained. "It was crazy. Like, I didn't know where the ball was coming from. But you just gotta be ready. That's what basketball is about -- hand-eye coordination. Luckily, I was blessed with it.
"People have always looked for me in the lob situation. But I'm just getting used to playing with them, they're getting used to playing with me and knowing where to throw it. And pretty soon, all those lobs are gonna be going down."
JaVale McGee lob attempt No. 2 pic.twitter.com/HCOSRLNvcc— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) December 14, 2016
JaVale McGee with nice slip, great catch from tough pass and he finishes in traffic pic.twitter.com/1pDAoTLiJu— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) December 14, 2016
