NBA: Davis strikes back – Pels beat up Dubs in Game 3!

The New Orleans Pelicans are still in the race! In Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals Anthony Davis and Co. have impressively returned. In the 119:100 hosts’ victory (BOXSCORE), the Golden State Warriors are trailing almost the entire game.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr had a surprise ready for the third game of the series and changed his starting five to two positions. As expected, Stephen Curry returned to the starting lineup for Nick Young, but Andre Iguodala was also back on the bench for the final MVP of 2015, with JaVale McGee starting the game.

Whether it was because of the new lineup or not – both sides opened the game wildly and hastily, the initial phase was very marked by ball losses and misses. In the middle of the crazy speed Jrue Holiday and Kevin Durant were the first players who found their touch and scored 6 fast points each, four trios by Solomon Hill (3) and Anthony Davis gave the hosts a significant lead for the first time. With 30:21 for the Pelicans the first quarter ended.

As a result, the previously pale Klay Thompson grew stronger and scored 12 points in the first five minutes of the second quarter. Davis immediately countered this with 8 of his own points, which NOLA again set to 13 points. Curry met two threesomes, but the Pelicans stayed in a better rhythm and delivered a real offensive show thanks to Rajon Rondo (10 assists on break!). Another small clay run (20 points in the quarter) put the dubs back within striking distance. It went into the break with “only” 62:56.

Golden State also opened the second half in half sleep, however, and New Orleans again managed a 10-2 run. Steve Kerr reacted by taking in Kevon Looney for McGee, but Davis was now in the zone – a brow putback dunk gave NOLA the first 20-point lead of the game with 83:63, shortly thereafter she even grew to 25 points. Before the last quarter it was 92:75.

As a result, New Orleans did not let the Dubs back into the game, even if at least Curry hit a few more throws in the last quarter. Kerr took his starters out of play five minutes before the end at 114:90, then it was garbage time.

Topscorer of the game was Davis, who scored 33 points (15/27) and 18 rebounds. Mirotic also delivered a double double (16 points, 13 rebounds), Holiday (21 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals) and Rondo (4 points, 10 rebounds, playoff career-high 21 assists). Ian Clark from the bank scored 18 points. The Warriors’ most successful scorers were Thompson (26 points, 9/22 FG), Durant (22, 8/18) and Curry (19, 6/19), while Draymond Green scratched the triple double (11 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, but also 7 turnovers).

Game 4 of the series will also take place on Sunday evening in New Orleans (9.30 pm at LIVESTREAM FOR FREE on SPOX).

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Golden State Warriors 119:100, Series 1:2 (BOXSCORE)

Even if Davis had the “louder” statistics and was also outstanding – that was another impressive performance by Holiday. Defended outstandingly against the much larger Durant and set in front again and again controlled pinpricks by searching for and punishing the right mismatches. That was the holiday from round one again!

Curry might not be completely “back” yet – at least in this game his movements looked neither offensive nor defensive, especially the lateral speed was not ideal. Against the strong defense of the Pelicans Curry could almost never make room for himself, so many of his finishes were forced. However, you could also see the bank, McGee or the general defence of the Dubs in halftime two, which didn’t have much to do with playoff basketball.

Curry’s return to the starting lineup resulted in even more cross-matches on both sides than in the first games. What was striking about the Pelicans was that they attacked Curry as a defender: If the double MVP was to defend against Clark or Moore, they would set many blocks off the ball and try to force Curry either into switches or at least into constant movement. When a switch was followed by a much stronger holiday against Curry, he immediately got the ball for post-ups and made Curry look old a few times.