The undermanned Golden State Warriors couldn’t replicate their matinee magic from Sunday’s upset over Denver, falling 113-109 to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night (February 24, 2026) at Smoothie King Center. Without Stephen Curry (runner’s knee, out eighth straight) and Kristaps Porziņģis (illness, out second straight), Golden State struggled with spacing, execution, and 21 turnovers (leading to 18 Pelicans points) in a frustrating loss to one of the West’s weakest teams.
Slow Start Dooms Warriors – Pelicans Capitalize Early
New Orleans jumped out to a 31-19 first-quarter lead, and though the Warriors battled back in the third (Moody scoring 10 points in the frame), they couldn’t overcome the deficit. Dejounte Murray’s driving layup with 1:04 left sealed it for the Pelicans (17-42, 14th West), who got 26 points from Zion Williamson despite missing Trey Murphy III.
Warriors (30-28, 8th West) shot poorly from deep (11/45 3PT, 24.4%) and committed too many miscues. Steve Kerr postgame: “Too many turnovers… We have to play well to win [with injuries], and I don’t think we played well tonight.”
Standouts in Defeat – Melton, Moody, Podziemski Lead Charge
De’Anthony Melton exploded for a team-high 28 points (8/21 FG, 9/11 FT, 3/10 3PT) in a season-high 28 minutes off the bench—impressive, but he’ll likely rest Wednesday vs. Memphis (back-to-back). Moses Moody added 24 points (7/13 FG, 6/8 3PT) and five rebounds in 34 minutes, showing steady growth as a starter.
Brandin Podziemski posted a double-double (16 points, 15 rebounds) in 31 minutes—his fourth game with 15+ boards as a reserve in consecutive outings (joining Otto Porter Jr. in rare company). Gui Santos had a career night (15 points, 12 rebounds in 39 minutes, second career double-double), while Draymond Green contributed 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks in 31 minutes.
Despite the effort, the Warriors’ 21 turnovers and poor spacing (Pelicans ignored off-ball movement at times) proved costly.
Kuminga Impresses in Atlanta Debut – Former Warrior Bursts for 27
Across the league in Atlanta, former Warriors wing Jonathan Kuminga made his Hawks debut post-February 5 trade (Kuminga + Buddy Hield for Porziņģis). Coming off a right knee bone bruise, Kuminga scored a season-high 27 points (9/12 FG) with 7 rebounds and 4 assists in just 24:37 off the bench—becoming the first Hawk to debut with 25+ points in under 30 minutes. Three transition dunks, three catch-and-shoot threes, and measured halfcourt attacks showcased his burst and athleticism.
Moses Moody, Kuminga’s draft classmate, reacted postgame with a smirk: “OK. OK.” Kuminga emphasized adjustment and learning: “It’s basketball… Trying to be a student of the game… Learning from other players here.” He praised Atlanta’s pace (3rd in league) and culture of transition and turnovers—fit that suits his strengths.
Tough Road Loss, But Playoff Positioning Still in Reach
Golden State is now 7-12 without Curry and 11-17 on the road—yet still holds the No. 8 seed (two games up on Portland, three back of Phoenix for No. 7). The loss highlights ongoing injury challenges and the need for better execution, but depth pieces like Melton (hot streak), Moody (consistent), Podziemski (rebounding machine), and Santos (breakout) continue stepping up.
Next up: a critical back-to-back finale Wednesday at Memphis (Melton expected to rest). Win there, and the Warriors maintain momentum heading into a tough stretch. Kuminga’s strong debut in Atlanta serves as a reminder of the talent Golden State traded away—but also underscores Porziņģis’ potential upside if he gets healthy.
Fan Warriors: injuries sting, but resilience shines. Stay locked in—playoff push continues!