Game ID: 22401072
Golden State Warriors @ New Orleans Pelicans
Friday, March 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 28 25 29 13 95GSW 21 29 33 28 111
GSW @ NOP ScoutingGSW @ NOP Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NOP availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 16 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 47 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 2 since 3/15, out tonight
BACK Missi back 3/17 after 2, 22 min since (81% of 27)
BACK Olynyk back 3/15 after 2, 27 min since (107% of 25)
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 14 min since (90% of 15)
NEW Matković 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 17 since 2/12, returns tonight: 22 min (92% of 24)
OUT Payton missed 48 since 12/05, returns tonight: 12 min (56% of 22)
OUT Cain missed 3 since 3/15, out tonight
BACK Missi back 3/17 after 2, 24 min since (89% of 27)
BACK Olynyk back 3/15 after 2, 28 min since (110% of 25)
NOP availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Cain missed 4 since 3/15, returns tonight: 13 min (97% of 14)
BACK Missi back 3/17 after 2, 25 min since (94% of 27)
BACK Olynyk back 3/15 after 2, 27 min since (105% of 25)
BACK Brooks Jr. back 3/21 after 17, 22 min since (92% of 24)
BACK Payton back 3/21 after 48, 12 min since (56% of 22)
NOP availability going into 3/24 · back-to-backBACK Missi back 3/17 after 2, 25 min since (94% of 27)
BACK Olynyk back 3/15 after 2, 26 min since (103% of 25)
BACK Brooks Jr. back 3/21 after 17, 21 min since (90% of 24)
BACK Payton back 3/21 after 48, 12 min since (56% of 22)
BACK Cain back 3/23 after 4, 13 min since (97% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/28 · 3 days' restBACK Missi back 3/17 after 2, 25 min since (95% of 27)
BACK Brooks Jr. back 3/21 after 17, 24 min since (100% of 24)
BACK Payton back 3/21 after 48, 18 min since (85% of 22)
BACK Cain back 3/23 after 4, 8 min since (57% of 14)
NEW Robinson-Earl 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT McCollum missed 2 since 3/24, not on tonight's roster
BACK Brooks Jr. back 3/21 after 17, 21 min since (90% of 24)
BACK Payton back 3/21 after 48, 20 min since (93% of 22)
BACK Cain back 3/23 after 4, 8 min since (57% of 14)
NEW Brown 25 to 30 min over the last 4
NEW Robinson-Earl 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/02 · 2 days' restBACK Brooks Jr. back 3/21 after 17, 22 min since (94% of 24)
BACK Payton back 3/21 after 48, 20 min since (92% of 22)
BACK Cain back 3/23 after 4, 6 min since (43% of 14)
NEW Brown 25 to 30 min over the last 4
NEW Robinson-Earl 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restBACK Cain back 3/23 after 4, 10 min since (72% of 14)
NEW Brown 25 to 30 min over the last 4
NEW Reeves 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restNEW Reeves 15 to 25 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 3/18 · back-to-backOUT Podziemski missed 5 since 3/08, returns tonight: 29 min (105% of 28)
OUT Jackson-Davis missed 2 since 3/15, returns tonight: 4 min (30% of 15)
BACK Kuminga back 3/13 after 31, 23 min since (94% of 24)
NEW Moody 21 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Payton II 15 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Santos 13 to 18 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restBACK Podziemski back 3/18 after 5, 29 min since (105% of 28)
BACK Kuminga back 3/13 after 31, 23 min since (95% of 24)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 3/18 after 2, 4 min since (30% of 15)
NEW Moody 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Payton II 15 to 24 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restBACK Podziemski back 3/18 after 5, 32 min since (116% of 28)
BACK Kuminga back 3/13 after 31, 23 min since (97% of 24)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 3/18 after 2, 4 min since (30% of 15)
NEW Moody 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Payton II 15 to 22 min over the last 4
GSW availability going into 3/25 · 2 days' restBACK Podziemski back 3/18 after 5, 33 min since (121% of 28)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 3/18 after 2, 4 min since (31% of 15)
NEW Moody 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Payton II 15 to 21 min over the last 4
GSW availability going into 3/28 · 2 days' restOUT Curry missed 2 since 3/22, returns tonight: 34 min (104% of 32)
BACK Podziemski back 3/18 after 5, 33 min since (118% of 28)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 3/18 after 2, 4 min since (30% of 15)
NEW Moody 21 to 27 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restBACK Curry back 3/28 after 2, 34 min since (104% of 32)
BACK Podziemski back 3/18 after 5, 32 min since (117% of 28)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 3/18 after 2, 4 min since (30% of 15)
NEW Post 15 to 21 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Payton II missed 2 since 3/28, out tonight
BACK Curry back 3/28 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 32)
GSW availability going into 4/03 · 1 day's restOUT Payton II missed 3 since 3/28, out tonight
BACK Curry back 3/28 after 2, 32 min since (99% of 32)
NEW Moody 21 to 28 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 4/04 · back-to-backOUT Payton II missed 4 since 3/28, returns tonight: 2 min (14% of 15)
OUT Jackson-Davis missed 2 since 4/01, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 15)
BACK Curry back 3/28 after 2, 33 min since (100% of 32)
NEW Moody 21 to 27 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCollum at 19 and Hawkins at 13 a game. 3 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Butler III at 20 and Podziemski at 16 a game. Without Curry (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 111 a night to New Orleans's 122 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-2 a night and Golden State minus-3. Call it Golden State 114, New Orleans 111, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/19 @ MIN 119-115 — NOP notes
NOP won 119-115. NOP shot 53% (47 of 89) to MIN's 45%, 13 of 29 from three, and got to the line 22 times to MIN's 36. Williamson led with 29 (12 of 16, 5 of 9 at the line); McCollum added 18, Brown 15. The hinge was Q2, 38-31: NOP came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 1.
3/21 @ MIN 93-134 — NOP notes
NOP lost 93-134. NOP shot 50% (34 of 68) to MIN's 54%, 11 of 31 from three. NOP turned it over 25 times to MIN's 13, and MIN turned those into 14 steals. McCollum led with 15 (6 of 15, 1 of 7 from three); Brown added 14, Reeves 11. Q1 was theirs, 22-28, but the other 3 periods went 106-71 against them. Robinson-Earl's -32 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 @ DET 130-136 — NOP notes
NOP lost 130-136. NOP shot 58% (49 of 85) to DET's 55%, 20 of 40 from three, and got to the line 16 times to DET's 40. NOP turned it over 17 times to DET's 6. McCollum led with 40 (16 of 28, 5 of 12 from three); Hawkins added 25, Robinson-Earl 13. Q3 was theirs, 32-25, the deficit cut from 9 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 111-98 against them. Brooks Jr.'s -15 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/24 vs PHI 112-99 — NOP notes
NOP won 112-99. NOP shot 49% (43 of 87) to PHI's 39%, 15 of 35 from three, and got to the line 13 times to PHI's 19. NOP turned it over 16 times to PHI's 11, and PHI turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 51-37 for them. Matković led with 19 (7 of 11, 3 of 4 from three); Reeves added 17, Missi 16. The hinge was Q1, 29-23: from level to 6 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Robinson-Earl was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
3/28 vs GSW 95-111 — NOP notes
NOP lost 95-111. NOP shot 41% (33 of 81) to GSW's 41%, 7 of 23 from three. NOP turned it over 15 times to GSW's 10, and GSW turned those into 10 steals. Brown led with 18 (6 of 11, 2 of 4 from three); Missi added 12, Robinson-Earl 11. Q1 was theirs, 28-21, but the other 3 periods went 90-67 against them. They led by as many as 12. Reeves's -17 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/30 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 20 free throws a game; McCollum at 24 and Brown at 15 a game. Without McCollum (2 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Ball at 23 and Bridges at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Gra. Williams (57 straight), Baugh (5 straight), Moore Jr. (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New Orleans 114, Charlotte 111, Charlotte keeping it close.
4/02 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 26 and Harden at 21 a game. They have won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Hawkins at 13 and Brown at 12 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 18 times a game to the Clippers' 12 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 106 a night to New Orleans's 115. Call it the Clippers 117, New Orleans 106, the Clippers by 11.
4/04 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Reaves at 26 and Dončić at 25 a game. Without Morris (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Hawkins at 14 and Brown at 12 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-6 a night and the Lakers minus-3 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 16 times a game to the Lakers' 11. Call it the Lakers 116, New Orleans 111.
4/06 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Alvarado at 15 and Matković at 13 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 122, shooting 56 percent and 43 from three, 27 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 34 and Kuzma at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Lillard (9 straight), Portis (24 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-6 a night and Milwaukee minus-6 and the arc, Milwaukee at 43 percent from three to New Orleans's 34. Call it New Orleans 115, Milwaukee 114, Milwaukee keeping it close.
3/18 vs MIL 104-93 — GSW notes
GSW won 104-93. GSW shot 42% (32 of 77) to MIL's 39%, 17 of 44 from three. GSW turned it over 18 times to MIL's 9, and MIL turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 52-34 for them. Butler III led with 24 (6 of 13, 1 of 4 from three, 11 of 11 at the line); Podziemski added 17, Hield 15. The hinge was Q2, 26-17: a lead of 5 became 14, and the lead reached 17. Butler III was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
3/20 vs TOR 117-114 — GSW notes
GSW won 117-114. GSW shot 42% (38 of 90) to TOR's 56%, 19 of 47 from three, and went to the line 28 times to TOR's 19 — 22 points from the stripe to their 15. GSW turned it over 14 times to TOR's 23. Green led with 21 (7 of 18, 5 of 14 from three); Post added 18, Curry 17. The hinge was Q1, 33-30: from level to 3 ahead. Podziemski was the night's best plus/minus at +7.
3/22 @ ATL 115-124 — GSW notes
GSW lost 115-124. GSW shot 46% (39 of 84) to ATL's 57%, 16 of 38 from three, and went to the line 26 times to ATL's 18 — 21 points from the stripe to their 11. GSW turned it over 9 times to ATL's 14. Butler III led with 25 (7 of 15, 1 of 7 from three, 10 of 14 at the line); Moody added 20, Podziemski 19. Q4 was theirs, 34-26, the deficit cut from 17 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 98-81 against them. Kuminga's -18 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/25 @ MIA 86-112 — GSW notes
GSW lost 86-112. GSW shot 40% (33 of 83) to MIA's 56%, 9 of 38 from three. Kuminga led with 15 (4 of 10, 1 of 3 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); Podziemski added 14, Santos 13. Q3 was theirs, 30-26, the deficit cut from 17 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 86-56 against them. Moody's -23 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/28 @ NOP 111-95 — GSW notes
GSW won 111-95. GSW shot 41% (38 of 92) to NOP's 41%, 13 of 55 from three. GSW turned it over 10 times to NOP's 15. Curry led with 23 (7 of 21, 5 of 16 from three); Butler III added 18, Kuminga 16. The hinge was Q4, 28-13: a lead of 1 became 16. GSW trailed 50-53 at the half and won the second half 61-42. Green was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/30 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Vassell at 21 and Castle at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 108, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Butler III at 19 and Podziemski at 15 a game. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-1 a night and San Antonio minus-5 and the defense, Golden State allowing 108 a night to San Antonio's 115. Call it Golden State 113, San Antonio 112, San Antonio keeping it close.
4/01 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 23 and Bane at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Jackson (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Curry at 18 and Podziemski at 17 a game. Without Payton II (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 110 a night to Memphis's 121 and the line, where Golden State takes 24 free throws a game to Memphis's 18. Call it Golden State 117, Memphis 115, Memphis keeping it close.
4/03 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and Reaves at 23 a game. Without Morris (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Curry at 29 and Butler III at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Payton II (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Lakers 115, Golden State 114, Golden State keeping it close.
4/04 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Curry at 31 and Podziemski at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Payton II (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 29 free throws a game; Jokić at 42 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. Without Murray (3 straight), Porter Jr. (2 straight), Strawther (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 111 a night to Denver's 118. Call it Golden State 118, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
GSWBH B. Hield
BP B. Podziemski
DG D. Green
GS G. Santos
JB J. Butler III
JK J. Kuminga
KL K. Looney
MM M. Moody
QP Q. Post
SC S. Curry
NOPAR A. Reeves
BB B. Brown
EP E. Payton
JA J. Alvarado
JH J. Hawkins
JR J. Robinson-Earl
KB K. Brooks Jr.
KM K. Matković
KO K. Olynyk
YM Y. Missi
GSW/NOP the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Curry scores 23 in his return from injury and the Warriors top the Pelicans 111-95
NEW ORLEANS -- — Stephen Curry scored 23 points in his return from a two-game absence and the Golden State Warriors beat the New Orleans Pelicans 111-95 on Friday night.
Coming back from a March 20 pelvic bruise, Curry played 34 minutes and made just 7 of 21 shots, but also hit five 3-pointers.
Jimmy Butler had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Jonathan Kuminga added 16 points for the Warriors, now 1-2 on what could be a pivotal six-game road trip as they try to earn a top-six seeding in the Western Conference and bypass the play-in.
Bruce Brown scored 18 for injury-depleted New Orleans, which played without four starters including Zion Williamson (lower back).
Yves Missi had 12 points and 10 rebounds, the rookie center's 12th double-double.
The Pelicans led by as many as 12 points in the first quarter. Brandin Podzienski and Curry each hit 3s during an 8-0 Warriors run to open the third, and Golden State maintained the lead for nearly the entire second half.
Takeaways Warriors: Golden State came out flat and got away with it on a night that a rookie center was the only usual starter available for their opponent. Draymond Green fouled out with 3:15 to go.
Pelicans: New Orleans dropped to 1/3 in the four recent games Williamson had missed. Still, the Pelicans turned in a feisty and competitive performance with a lineup comprised mainly of usual reserves. Elfrid Payton , who has played in just 16 games this season, had 10 assists.
Key moment Warriors guard Buddy Hield , drafted sixth overall by the Pelicans in 2016, made a 3-pointer while being fouled for a 4-point play that gave Golden State a 100-85 lead with 7:12 left. New Orleans never threatened after that.
Key stat The Warriors made only one of their first 16 3-point shots before finishing 13 of 55.
Up Next Both teams play Sunday, when the Warriors visit San Antonio and the Pelicans host Charlotte.