New Orleans Pelicans @ Golden State Warriors

Curry remains Golden State’s late-game engine

Stephen Curry scored 41 in Golden State’s overtime win over Orlando, extending the Warriors’ winning streak to seven. His return after a timeout with 4:34 remaining underscores how heavily Golden State can rely on him in decisive stretches.

Warriors’ turnover risk remains relevant

Golden State committed 19 turnovers against Orlando, producing 26 Magic points. Steve Kerr described the third quarter as chaotic, creating a potential vulnerability against a New Orleans team that may need extra possessions to offset its limited scoring depth.

New Orleans is operating with a compressed rotation

The Pelicans are dealing with multiple unavailable or managed players, including Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy and Bryce McGowens, while Jordan Poole is out with a left quad strain. That context forces heavier minutes for secondary contributors and increases the importance of lineup efficiency.

Jeremiah Fears has become New Orleans’ primary scoring outlet

Fears has produced 36 points in each of his last two cited games and delivered a career-high 40-point performance during his breakout stretch. With key scorers sidelined, his rim pressure and elevated usage are central to the Pelicans’ offensive outlook.

Pelicans’ veterans provide a lower-variance base

DeAndre Jordan and Kevon Looney are described as stabilizing presences, with Jordan’s efficiency and Looney’s rebounding offering dependable support. Their contributions can help New Orleans remain functional, but they do not fully replace the scoring depth lost to the injury situation.

Missi’s absence further reduces New Orleans’ frontcourt options

Yves Missi is listed out with a knee injury, removing another frontcourt option for New Orleans. That adds to the rotation pressure already created by the Pelicans’ broader availability issues.

Pick Ideas

Angles drawn from the matchup analysis above and refreshed as the news changes. They are a separate read from the LineCrush pick for this matchup, so the two can land on different sides.

Consider Golden State in the first half

A modest first-half position on Golden State remains reasonable after the Warriors extended their winning streak to seven and New Orleans played the Clippers on Nov. 8. Golden State’s home setting and fresher schedule profile support targeting the early portion rather than relying solely on the full-game result.

Lean toward a New Orleans team total under

New Orleans’ compressed rotation, Poole’s absence and the unavailability or management of several key players argue against assuming balanced scoring depth. Fears’ recent production can keep the Pelicans competitive offensively, but the broader roster situation supports caution on an inflated New Orleans team total.

Consider Jeremiah Fears points over

Fears has scored 36 points in each of his last two cited games and is receiving explicit confidence from interim coach James Borrego. With primary scorers sidelined, his increased usage and rim-attack role make his points over worth considering when the posted line properly reflects that elevated responsibility.