The Golden State Warriors fell 113-109 to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night (February 24, 2026) at Smoothie King Center, hampered by a poor start and continued absences. Despite the loss, Draymond Green made franchise history.
Tough Road Loss – Pelicans Capitalize Early
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Without Stephen Curry (knee), Warriors fell behind 31-19 in the first quarter and couldn’t fully recover. Zion Williamson paced New Orleans (17-42, 14th West) with 26 points and 6 rebounds (11/21 FG), fueling their second straight win (5-5 in last 10). Pelicans host Utah Thursday.
Warriors (30-28, 8th West) now 11-17 on the road. Anthony Slater (The Athletic): doomed by slow start, 3 games back of Suns for No. 7 seed, 2 up on Blazers for No. 8. De’Anthony Melton (28 points off bench) expected to rest vs. Memphis Wednesday.
Draymond Green’s Historic Night in Defeat
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Green played 32 minutes: 11 points (5/11 FG, 1/3 3PT), 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks. Solid two-way effort, though Pelicans ignored him off-ball (Dalton Johnson NBC: swatted by DeAndre Jordan, low assists in half).
Milestone: Green reached 1,000 career offensive rebounds with Warriors—ninth player in franchise history (per Warriors official). In his 14th season (all with GSW), averages 8.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.1 APG (40.9% FG, 32.0% 3PT) over 47 games. At 35, Green’s hustle, defense, and leadership remain vital amid injuries.
Must-Win vs. Grizzlies Ahead
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The loss hurts road record and momentum, but Warriors control Play-In fate. Green’s milestone underscores his enduring value—glue guy with championship pedigree. Coming off second-round exit vs. Timberwolves last year, Golden State needs wins now.
Wednesday in Memphis (back-to-back, Melton rest) is critical. Depth (Melton hot streak) and Green’s grit give hope. Warriors fans: stay locked in—playoff positioning still in reach!