No Curry, no problem — Jimmy Butler took charge and carried the Golden State Warriors to a 104–96 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. The star swingman almost notched a triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds in a game that tested Golden State’s resilience without their leader, Stephen Curry. Curry sat out due to a left quadriceps bruise suffered earlier in the week against Houston.
The Pelicans’ Zion Williamson led his team’s push with 25 points on an efficient 8-of-16 shooting, adding seven rebounds for good measure. Saddiq Bey provided extra scoring support with 21 points, while Jeremiah Fears contributed 16 points and six rebounds before being ejected in the final minute after picking up his second technical foul — a moment that visibly frustrated New Orleans.
And then came the comeback story: Jonathan Kuminga made his long-awaited return after missing seven games with tendinitis in both knees. He captivated the home crowd when he entered midway through the first quarter to a loud ovation and quickly scored. Later, in the fourth, he drained back-to-back three-pointers that energized the Warriors and helped seal the win. He ended the night with 10 points, but his emotional return seemed to lift the entire team.
Brandin Podziemski delivered an all-around solid performance — 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds — showing growing confidence with every game. Gary Payton II, known for his defense, surprised many by scoring 19 points, 12 of them before halftime, while also grabbing 11 rebounds. It was only the Warriors’ second victory in their last six outings, a small but crucial bounce back after a stretch that included a painful 124–106 loss to these same Pelicans on November 16.
Still, it wasn’t pretty early on. Without Curry to guide the offense, Golden State stumbled out of the gate from beyond the arc — missing 18 of their first 19 three-point tries and shooting just 2-for-22 from deep in the first half. They posted only 42 first-half points, their lowest of the season. Statistically, those two brutal quarters tied the team’s worst long-range accuracy in any of the 367 games since Steve Kerr became head coach. Eventually, they found their rhythm, ending the night 12-of-47 from distance.
One scary moment came near the end of the second quarter when Butler took a hard hit from Micah Peavy on a drive to the basket. The officials reviewed the play and ruled it a Flagrant 1. Butler, limping slightly, stayed in the game to shoot his free throws, showing toughness that underscored his leadership on a night when Golden State desperately needed it.
Meanwhile, New Orleans played without Trey Murphy, their second-highest scorer, who was sidelined due to soreness in his right elbow — a key absence that might have tipped the balance.
Next up, the Pelicans head to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Sunday, completing a challenging back-to-back road stretch. Golden State, on the other hand, will return home to host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night — hoping to keep momentum alive as Curry continues to recover.
Here’s the real question: Did this game prove that Golden State can survive — or even thrive — without Curry when Butler steps up? Or was this just a lucky night against a short-handed Pelicans team? Share your thoughts — are the Warriors still legitimate contenders, or just holding on until their superstar returns?
