The New Orleans Pelicans didn’t look the part of a team with nothing to play for Friday night.
Instead, they played like a team jockeying for playoff position while facing a team that really was.
For a little more than three quarters, the Pelicans hung around but didn’t have quite enough, falling to the Golden State Warriors 111-95 at Smoothie King Center.
“I thought the guys really put forth a really good effort,” said Pelicans coach Willie Green. “They played hard. They competed. They played for each other. They played together. But when you’re playing against a really good team, you have to do your best to sustain it for 48 minutes.”
Bruce Brown led the Pelicans with 18 points.
Elfrid Payton, who dished out 14 assists in Monday’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers, had 10 more assists Friday.
Rookie Yves Missi finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds for his 12th double-double.
The Pelicans (20-54) lost all four games against the Warriors (42-32) this season.
This one, played before a crowd where the Warriors fans were louder than those cheering for the Pelicans, was way closer than anyone would have expected. Especially considering how shorthanded the Pelicans were. Both Zion Williamson (lower back contusion) and CJ McCollum (right foot contusion) sat out the game.
The Warriors, meanwhile, got Steph Curry back. He missed the Warriors’ past two games with a pelvic contusion. The Warriors, who entered Friday tied for sixth in the Western Conference standings, lost the two games without Curry.
Even at full strength, Golden State coach Steve Kerr knew that didn’t mean this would be a cakewalk.
“Our guys know how often this happens where guys are out on the other team and how well everyone else plays because they are getting an opportunity,” Kerr said before the game. “We know that’s what’s coming tonight. They’ll play with great energy. All the guys getting the minutes are going to be excited about that. So it’s on us to bring our own energy.”
Early on, it was the duo of Brown and Jose Alvarado bringing the energy. The Pelicans raced out to a 7-0 lead to start the game and stretched it to 14-2 with 7:49 left in the opening quarter. Brown (eight) and Alvarado (six) scored all of the Pelicans’ points during their fast start.
“We all know when Jose touches the floor, he’s going to bring it,” Green said.
The Pels led 28-21 after a first quarter in which the Warriors shot a woeful 1 for 14 on 3-pointers. The Warriors got some offense going in the second quarter, but the Pels still led 53-50 at the break.
“The effort was there, the competitiveness was there,” Green said. “We just came up short.”
Curry led the Warriors with 23 points.
The Pelicans used their 41st different starting lineup Friday.
With just eight games remaining, it’s unclear what the Pelicans’ plans are for Williamson the rest of the way. Green, when asked Thursday whether they would possibly sit Williamson for the rest of the season, had this to say:
“Not my call,” Green said. “That will be something that he decides or the organization decides collaboratively.”
The Pelicans host the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
