OAKLAND -- After a three-game road trip through the Eastern Conference against sub-.500 teams, the Warriors return home Wednesday to face a Pelicans team expected to compete for a top-four slot in the rugged Western Conference.
Pregame coverage on NBC Sports begins with Happy Hour at 5 p.m., followed by Warriors Pregame. Tipoff at Oracle Arena is scheduled for 7:35.
Playing their third straight game without key backup Shaun Livingston, the Warriors (7-1) have won five in a row, by an average margin of 20.2 points.
The Pelicans (4-2) got off to a 4-0 start but, with star forward Anthony Davis out of the lineup, have lost the last two games. It's possible Davis is ready to return.
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Warriors
F - Kevin Durant F - Draymond Green C - Damian Jones G - Klay Thompson G - Stephen Curry
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Pelicans
F - Nikola Mirotic F - Solomon Hill F - Anthony Davis G - E'Twaun Moore G - Jrue Holiday
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: C DeMarcus Cousins (L Achilles' Tendon surgery rehab) and G Shaun Livingston (R foot soreness) are listed as out.
Pelicans: F Julius Randle (L foot plantar fasciitis) is listed as probable. F Davis (R elbow sprain) is listed as questionable. F Darius Miller (R quad contusion) is listed as doubtful. G Elfrid Payton(R ankle sprain) is listed as out.
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Warriors: Livingston's absence, along with the achy status of Andre Iguodala, could result in more minutes for Quinn Cook, Alfonzo McKinnie and perhaps rookie Jacob Evans III.. . . If Davis is cleared to play, he can expect to face a variety of defenders, including Damian Jones, Kevon Looney, Jordan Bell, Green and possibly Durant.
Pelicans: If Davis and/or Randle are ruled out, New Orleans will be forced to turn to rangy PF Cheick Diallo and F/C Jahlil Okafor, a ground-bound big man. Both can expect a lot of Looney and Jones.. . . One interesting thing to watch is how Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry deploys Holiday. He's only 6-4 but is a superior defender and took turns on several Warriors, from Curry to Durant to Thompson, when the teams met in the playoffs in May.
