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NEW ORLEANS - The undermanned Golden State Warriors didn't bring their matinee magic to Smoothie King Center.
With Stephen Curry (runner's knee) out an eighth straight game Tuesday and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) out a second straight game, the Warriors limped to a 113-109 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. That after beating the Denver Nuggets without the duo Sunday afternoon via 21-of-52 shooting from 3-point range at Chase Center.
Meanwhile in Atlanta, Jonathan Kuminga made his much anticipated debut after Golden State dealt him and Buddy Hield on Feb. 5 for Porzingis. Kuminga supplied a season-high 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists off the bench in a 119-98 win over the Wizards. He became the first Hawks player to debut with more than 25 points in fewer than 30 minutes (24:37).
The Warriors didn't fare as well in their matchup against a lottery team, shooting 11 of 45 from 3-point range with 21 turnovers that turned into 18 opposing points. De'Anthony Melton scored a team-high 28 as Moses Moody added 24 points and Brandin Podziemski posted 16 points and 15 rebounds.
Zion Williamson led New Orleans - down standout wing Trey Murphy III - with 26 points.
The short-handed Warriors (30-28) couldn't cultivate the offensive rhythm they had against Denver, trailing 46-39 at halftime while shooting 31.3%. Melton had three of their six first-half threes, including two in an opening quarter during which the Pelicans used their size and length to uncork a 17-3 run.
Williamson had nine of his 13 first-half points in the first 12 minutes, helping New Orleans to 18 first-quarter points in the paint. Golden State better walled off the rim with a zone defense and a tighter shell to win the second quarter 20-15.
The Pelicans (17-42) settled for three after three amid 5-of-24 first-half shooting.
Golden State settled its third-quarter offense opposite its physical defense. Moody scored 10 third-quarter points and the Warriors took a momentary lead, but it was vanquished in part by a 9-4 run with which the Pelicans closed.
Williamson provided separation in what started as a seesaw fourth with four attacks of the basket for scores. Melton helped the Warriors whittle a 10-point deficit to three down the stretch but Dejounte Murray had a driving two with 1:04 to play - preceding two straight Pelicans stops.
Golden State next plays Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Pelicans 113, Warriors 109
| FG | FT | Reb | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOLDEN STATE | Min | M-A | M-A | O-T | A | PF | PTS |
| Moody | 34:00 | 7-13 | 6-8 | 2-5 | 3 | 5 | 24 |
| Santos | 39:20 | 6-13 | 2-2 | 4-12 | 4 | 5 | 15 |
| Green | 31:37 | 5-11 | 0-0 | 3-7 | 6 | 2 | 11 |
| Melton | 28:11 | 8-21 | 9-11 | 0-4 | 3 | 4 | 28 |
| Spencer | 23:07 | 2-7 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Podziemski | 31:52 | 7-18 | 1-2 | 5-15 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| Post | 22:55 | 3-7 | 0-0 | 3-9 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Richard | 17:28 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Payton II | 11:30 | 2-7 | 0-0 | 2-3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Totals | 240:00 | 40-97 | 18-23 | 21-59 | 26 | 21 | 109 |
Percentages: FG .412, FT .783.
3-Point Goals: 11-45, .244 (Moody 4-10, Melton 3-10, Green 1-3, Santos 1-4, Spencer 1-4, Podziemski 1-6, Payton II 0-4, Post 0-4).
Team Rebounds: 9. Team Turnovers: 1.
Blocked Shots: 6 (Santos 3, Green 2, Post).
Turnovers: 20 (Santos 6, Melton 3, Podziemski 3, Spencer 3, Post 2, Green, Moody, Payton II).
Steals: 8 (Podziemski 2, Richard 2, Santos 2, Melton, Spencer).
Technical Fouls: None.
| FG | FT | Reb | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW ORLEANS | Min | M-A | M-A | O-T | A | PF | PTS |
| Bey | 30:49 | 6-13 | 5-5 | 3-6 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| Williamson | 33:11 | 11-21 | 3-5 | 5-6 | 0 | 3 | 26 |
| Jordan | 22:23 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 3-8 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Jones | 30:51 | 1-8 | 2-2 | 0-3 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Murray | 24:48 | 5-11 | 2-2 | 0-2 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
| Poole | 22:47 | 4-11 | 1-1 | 1-6 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| Fears | 21:06 | 3-10 | 1-2 | 1-3 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
| McGowens | 18:22 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 1-4 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Matkovic | 18:12 | 4-6 | 1-2 | 4-8 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| Queen | 17:31 | 4-13 | 0-1 | 3-7 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Totals | 240:00 | 43-101 | 17-23 | 21-53 | 20 | 19 | 113 |
Percentages: FG .426, FT .739.
3-Point Goals: 10-40, .250 (Poole 3-10, Williamson 1-1, Fears 1-3, Matkovic 1-3, McGowens 1-3, Murray 1-4, Bey 1-6, Jones 1-7, Queen 0-3).
Team Rebounds: 6. Team Turnovers: None.
Blocked Shots: 9 (Matkovic 3, Jordan 2, Jones, McGowens, Queen, Williamson).
Turnovers: 17 (Murray 5, Bey 4, Fears 2, Poole 2, Jordan, Matkovic, Queen, Williamson).
Steals: 12 (Jones 5, Williamson 2, Fears, Jordan, Matkovic, McGowens, Murray).
Technical Fouls: None.
| Golden State | 19 | 20 | 33 | 37 | - | 109 |
| New Orleans | 31 | 15 | 31 | 36 | - | 113 |
A_16,481 (16,867). T_2:23.
This article originally published at As Warriors fall to lowly Pelicans, Jonathan Kuminga shines in historic Hawks debut.