Steph Curry returns as Warriors cruise past Pelicans: 5 observations

NEW ORLEANS Here are five observations from the Golden State Warriors 111-95 road win over the Pelicans on Friday night.

1.

Steph Currys return One of the strangest injuries in Steph Currys 16-year career came in an empty Houston arena in March 2021.

After stumbling backward on a fadeaway jumper, Curry tripped over the tin stairs courtside and landed hard on his tailbone.

Advertisement Hairline fracture, Curry called it.

Heres the fall.

The best view of Steph Currys awkward late third quarter fall from @NBCSWarriors .

Stumbled into an empty area of Houston bench, landed on tailbone, left the game.

pic.twitter.com/nbLvkPnH4V Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 18, 2021 Curry reacted similarly to the jolt of pain he felt when he landed hard on his tailbone against the Toronto Raptors last week.

He said it immediately reminded him of that 2021 injury in Houston.

But medical tests and a week of rest have Curry believing it isnt nearly as serious.

Thankfully, I didnt break anything or have any bone damage, Curry said.

It was mostly just a deep, serious contusion.

Ill feel it for a while.

But I can play.

I cant make it worse, as long as I dont land on it again.

Curry is wearing extra padding for protection and said he can still feel the soreness, but it didnt impact the way he could operate Friday night against the Pelicans.

He missed his final five 3s to blur an otherwise lively and productive performance.

Curry had 23 points, six assists and three steals.

He was a plus-10 in a 16-point win.

Felt great, Curry said.

A week off is great in one aspect because youre rested.

The timing, endurance of getting through regular minutes was a little bit of a challenge.

Steph Curry said his recent injury reminded him of that hard fall on his tailbone in Houston back in 2021.

But this one isnt as bad.

Deep contusion as opposed to hairline fracture in 2021.

Here is full health update from Curry pic.twitter.com/2OCtFQHkYI Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 29, 2025 2.

Collective slump The Warriors are in a collective shooting slump.

Theyve made only 34 percent of their 3s the last six games, a bottom-10 mark in the league.

Their starters missed their first 14 on Tuesday night in Miami and their first six against the Pelicans, digging another immediate double-digit hole.

In all, they finished a dreadful 13-of-55 from deep against the Pelicans, beating a short-handed tanking team regardless.

But tougher tests are ahead and theyll need a few of their slumping shooters to bust out of this funk.

Advertisement Moses Moody is 6-of-32 on 3s the last six games.

Draymond Green is 6-of-30 in that same time frame.

Brandin Podziemski went 3-of-13 the last two games.

Jimmy Butler is 11-of-52 on 3s (21.2 percent) in his 21 games with the Warriors after going 1-of-6 against the Pelicans.

3.

Quinten Posts volume The shooter, besides Curry, that the Warriors are relying on most is actually a rookie center.

Quinten Post got up nine 3s in 18 minutes against the Pelicans, making three and scoring 15 points off the bench.

This continues a consistently productive stretch for Post in a limited role.

Post is averaging 19.7 minutes in 14 March games and has made 44.6 percent of his 5.3 attempted 3s per game.

Thats extreme volume.

Post is getting up an eye-popping 9.2 per 36 minutes (top 20 in the NBA) on the season and still shooting 43.4 percent.

Id never shot at this volume, Post said.

At Boston College, I was way more of a usage player in the action, facilitating, scoring inside.

I really didnt know this would be my role 7-foot spot-up shooter.

Something like that.

But this is where Im having a lot of success.

Id feel like Im doing the team a disservice when Im not being aggressive with my shot.

Was there any level of discomfort upping that volume? This is where the G League came in, Post said.

Ive had some struggles early on in the season where Im telling the coaches, Yo, Im not used to shooting nine 3s, 10 3s, eight 3s.

They just told me, This is kind of what makes you you.

Its kind of my niche.

Quinten Post: Id never shot at this volume.

At Boston College, I was way more of a usage player in the action, facilitating, scoring inside.

Heres Post on learning to be comfortable getting up nine 3s in an NBA game pic.twitter.com/madOIUaP72 Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 29, 2025 4.

Steve Kerrs hope for Jonathan Kuminga Jonathan Kuminga had a solid game against the Pelicans: 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists.

He missed both of his 3s, had some defensive breakdowns and absorbed knee-to-knee contact that had him icing his left knee after the game.

There was positive and negative.

Steve Kerr closed with Kuminga in the first half, rewarding him for some downhill production, but didnt close with him in the second half, possibly penalizing him for some spottier defensive effort.

Advertisement In the lead-up to the game, Kerr identified Kuminga as the playing-time beneficiary in Gary Payton IIs absence (partially torn ligament in his left thumb).

But that was issued with a challenge for Kuminga to up his individual defense.

JK is the obvious guy, Kerr said.

Put him on the best offensive player.

Pick up full (court).

Harass people like Gary does.

Im going to ask JK to do that.

It definitely opens up more minutes for him if hes effective doing that.

The Pelicans didnt really have a threatening scorer available, and Kuminga mostly floated on the defensive end Friday night.

Steve Kerr on the Payton absence: It opens up an opportunity for (Jonathan Kuminga) to be that defensive stopper, the guy weve relied on Gary to be.

pic.twitter.com/nmv26OALhI Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 27, 2025 5.

Standings watch The Warriors, Timberwolves and Clippers all won Friday night, keeping them bunched up around the coveted sixth seed.

Above them, the struggling Grizzlies and Lakers have the same record and will play Saturday in Memphis.

The loser will drop to only 1.5 games up on the Clippers and Warriors.

For the Warriors, the Grizzlies ( after firing their head coach ) seem like the most vulnerable target.

They face the Lakers and Celtics the next two games.

If they lose both and the Warriors take care of business Sunday in San Antonio, the Warriors would go into Memphis on Tuesday with a chance to pass the Grizzlies in the standings (clinching the tiebreaker in the process).

Here is how it stands: 4.

Lakers: 44-29 5.

Grizzlies: 44-29 6.

Clippers: 42-31 (have clinched tiebreaker over Warriors) 7.

Warriors: 42-31 8.

Wolves: 42-32 (Photo of Jimmy Butler driving to the basket: Stephen Lew / Imagn Images).

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