PREVIEW: Anthony Davis And His Depleted New Orleans Pelicans (37-31) Visit Golden State Warriors (54-13)

New Orleans Pelicans (37-31) at Golden State Warriors (54-13)

Tip-off: Friday, March 20th, 2015 – 7:30PM PDT

Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland CA

TV: CSN Bay Area | Radio: KNBR 680 AM

Livetweet: @LetsGoWarriors #LetsGoWarriorsLive

Projected Starting Lineups:

Warriors

PG: Stephen Curry (23.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 7.9 APG)

SG: Justin Holiday (4.2 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.8 APG)

SF: Harrison Barnes (10.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.4 APG)

PF: Draymond Green (11.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.6 APG)

C: Andrew Bogut (6.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.6 APG)

Head Coach: Steve Kerr (54-13, .806)

Pelicans

PG: Tyreke Evans (16.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 6.5 APG)

SG: Eric Gordon (13.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.0 APG)

SF: Quincy Pondexter (8.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.5 APG)

PF: Dante Cunningham (5.4 PPG, 3.8 APG, 0.8 APG)

C: Alexis Ajinca (6.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.7 APG)

Head Coach: Mike Budenholzer (91-58, .611)

Last Times Out

LAST WARRIORS GAME: On Wednesday, 3/18/2015, the Warriors defeated the Hawks, 114-95, as Andre Iguodala came off the bench to spark the Warriors with 21 points and 3 steals.

LAST PELICANS GAME: On Thursday, 3/19/2015, the Suns defeated the Pelicas, 74-72, in Phoenix. Anthony Davis had rolled his ankle during morning shootaround and did not play.

LAST WARRIORS-PELICANS MATCHUP: On 12/14/2014, the Warriors defeated the Pelicans, 128-122, in New Orleans, as the Warriors stifled the Pelicans late in the game and in overtime.

LAST WARRIORS-PELICANS MATCHUP AT ORACLE: On 12/4/2014, Golden State defeated New Orleans, 112-85, as Barnes scored 17 points, Curry amassed 19-and-11, and Klay Thompson led with 23.

Game Notes

• “The Warriors have followed up a 19-game winning streak at Oracle Arena with their current 10-game run. They’re averaging a league-high 113.5 points per game at home with a 15.3 average margin of victory.

  With a big lead in the West, Golden State is likely to play either Oklahoma City or New Orleans (37-31) in the first round of the playoffs. The Pelicans, though, fell one game back of the eighth-place Thunder following Thursday’s 74-72 loss at Phoenix.
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  Davis averaged 29.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 4.7 blocks over his previous seven games before rolling his left ankle in Thursday’s shootaround. It’s uncertain whether the star forward will be available against the Warriors.
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  He’s totaled 61 points and 32 boards in his last two meetings, but hasn’t beaten Golden State in seven career games. New Orleans had won 10 of 13 overall heading into Thursday before falling to 6-7 without Davis.
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  Making matters worse, Omer Asik – averaging 10.0 rebounds – could be out after suffering a calf strain in Phoenix.
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  “At this point, it’s going to boil down to who’s the healthiest and who can execute down the stretch,” guard Eric Gordon said.
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  The Pelicans will need better play from their backcourt after Gordon and Tyreke Evans went 10 for 32 from the field Thursday. Evans scored a season-high 34 in a 128-122 overtime home loss to Golden State on Dec. 14 while Davis was sidelined.
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  New Orleans has tightened things up defensively, allowing 94.9 points per game in its past 15. The Pelicans, however, have given up an average of 120.0 points and 21-of-46 shooting from 3-point range in the two matchups with the Warriors.” — Taylor Bechtold, AP/STATS

• “The Warriors have beaten the Pelicans 9 straight times…by an average of 105.9 to 95.1.” — Tim Roye, Warriors radio broadcaster

• “Anthony Davis is doubtful tonight with a left ankle strain, with him the Pelicans are 31-24, without him they are 6-7.” — Roye

• “Stephen Curry has made at least one 3pointer in each of his 15 career games vs the Pelicans, 44.3% (39/88) outside the arc.” — Roye