NBA: Playoffs-Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans

1st Quarter

Anthony Davis got the game started with a quick bucket, but Klay Thompson came right back to take the lead with a three point bucket. Eric Gordon quickly came back with a triple of his own, plus another two point shot from Davis. It was Steph Curry’s turn to join the three point party and he cut the lead to one with his bucket from long distance. It was raining in New Orleans and Curry helped the Warriors get the lead with back to back triples and Thompson followed with two of his own. The Warriors suddenly had a 17-9 advantage with about half of the quarter still left. Anthony Davis then proceeded to do Anthony Davis things. His dunk got Smoothie King Center off their feet and Tyreke Evans chipped in with five straight points. The Pelicans ended the final 2:30 on a 6-0 run and they took a 26-25 into the second quarter.

2nd Quarter

The Pelicans had ended the first with all the momentum and it carried over to the second quarter. In less than two minutes, the Pelicans went on a 9-0 run. The Warriors could not buy a basket and the Pelicans kept scoring, making it a 13-0 run before Draymond Green got a dunk. The Pelicans had a 12 point lead and all the momentum. Shaun Livingston hit a bucket and drew the foul, but Ryan Anderson hit five straight points and the Pelican lead was at 12 again. Anderson was hot and he scored another four straight. Another 6-0 run from the Pelicans gave them a 16 point lead. The Warriors responded with a 5-0 run thanks to Green and Thompson, but the Pelicans always had a response. The Warriors fought valiantly to keep the lead manageable, but Evans kept scoring at will. The Dubs were able to cut the lead to 11 at halftime, but it was going to be an uphill battle in the second half.

3rd Quarter

Thompson sinked a tripled to start the quarter and the lead was down to eight. Quincy Pondexter scored four points in a row to get the lead back to double digits. Curry hit three straight free throws to get it back to single digits. The Brow came back to score six in a row and the Warriors had no answer for the Pelicans. An Evans layup gave the Pelicans a 19 point lead. The Warriors kept attempting to come back, but whenever they got a 4-5 point run, the Pelicans came back. The Pelicans were playing a great game, it wasn’t just Davis. Everybody was scoring and the crowd proved to be a factor. The last three minutes of the game became a free throw contest and the Pelicans increased their lead. The Pelicans ended the quarter on a 4-0 run and the lead was 20 at the end of the third.

4th Quarter

Two straight buckets from Leandro Barbosa made it a 16 point lead with most of the fourth quarter remaining. At this point, time was running out for the Warriors, so they had to make a run sooner rather than later. The Pelicans did not allow it to happen, they kept scoring at will and the Warriors could not manage to sustain a run. The Dubs went on a 9-2 run midway through the quarter and they finally got some momentum. It was an eight point lead and the Warriors had life. Back to back put backs from Green made it a four point lead, which was miraculous. The Warriors had an opportunity to tie the game but missed a few shots. Finally Anthony Davis missed a free throw to make it a three point lead and Curry hit a miraculous three to tie the game.

Overtime

Steph Curry hit a triple to take a three point lead in the overtime period. The Pelicans answered back with two free throws. An unlikely hero in Harrison Barnes hit a triple to give the Warriors a five point lead. Both teams were scoring, but the Warriors were protecting the lead. However, Ryan Anderson hit a triple to make it a one point game. The Warriors were able to close it out with several Curry free throws.