New Orleans Pelicans vs Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors will look to solidify their hold on the sixth seed in the NBA’s Western Conference when they visit the Smoothie King Center on Friday to take on the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Pelicans currently sit near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, despite securing a 112-99 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Meanwhile, the Warriors, who are clinging to the final guaranteed playoff spot, struggled in their last outing, falling 112-86 to the Miami Heat on Tuesday.

For New Orleans, the 2024-25 season has been marked by inconsistency and disappointment, with the team dropping five of its last seven games.

Since being officially eliminated from playoff contention on March 13, Willie Green’s squad has managed just two wins in its past six matchups.

Defensive struggles have plagued the Pelicans all season, as they currently allow an average of 119.2 points per game—the second-highest in the Western Conference.

Their home record has also been dismal, with just seven wins in 37 games, making them one of the weakest teams on their own court. Addressing these issues will be a major priority for Green and his coaching staff in the offseason.

However, Friday presents an opportunity for New Orleans to secure back-to-back home victories for the first time this season. They shot 49% from the field in Monday’s win, slightly surpassing their season average of 45.4%.

Although the Pelicans rank among the NBA’s worst in free-throw shooting (45.4%), they were much sharper from the line against Philadelphia, converting 84.6% of their attempts (11-of-13).

Golden State, one of the league’s hottest teams earlier this month, has hit a rough patch, suffering back-to-back losses. Their defeat to the Heat on Tuesday was particularly one-sided, as they struggled to keep pace throughout the game.