The Black Falcon is on a roll.
Harrison Barnes scored 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting in the Warriors’ 112-96 victory over the Pelicans, just two days after scoring a game-high 25 points against Atlanta.
On a night with Klay Thompson sidelined and Stephen Curry ice cold from the field, Barnes again rose to the challenge, aided by double-digit outings from Leandro Barbosa, Andre Iguodala and Marreese Speights.
Despite Curry starting the game 1-of-14 from the field, Golden State’s second unit maintained a lead with the second unit who combined for 56 points on the night.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told SFBay that with Curry going cold, his team’s ability to stay involved and push the ball was proof their work is paying off:
“I thought it was a very professional effort tonight. We were very good with our execution, we’ve made that a focal point the last couple weeks … When the game slows down we’ve got to continue to get better and I thought we were really good with that tonight on a night when the ball didn’t really go in from three.”
A Barbosa three gave the Warriors a 37-30 lead early in the second quarter, but it was late in the frame when the starters were brought back on the floor that Barnes rattled off eight of his 22 points in the final 3:23.
The only Warriors starter to score in the second quarter, Barnes picked up right where he left off after halftime, pouring in another eight points in the opening minutes of the second half.
Barnes said he’s enjoying being able to play freely and build on his game, and is all around having a lot of fun:
“I try not to think about it too much … I just try to go out there and be loose and whatever happens, happens.”
With just over two minutes left in the third, a Norris Cole trey cut the Warriors lead to eight points. But on the following possession, Curry hit his first three of the game and first field goal since the opening minutes.
Curry’s shot sparked a 14-4 run to close the third quarter, in which Speights and Iguodala picked up the offensive load while Curry continued shooting dimes to multiple players and racking up a 16-point, 11-assist double-double.
The Warriors continued to extend the lead in the final quarter to as many as 25 points before subbing in deep reserves, giving every Warrior minutes in their 11th-straight home win.
The Warriors, now 55-13, continue their six-game home stand Saturday against the 31-37 Utah Jazz.
Golden State is 32-2 at home, its second-highest win total at home in a single season in franchise history (club record is 36 set in 1975-76). … The Warriors have won 10-straight against New Orleans, its longest streak against the franchise and the Warriors’ longest active winning streak against an opponent. … Golden State forced a New Orleans season-high 21 turnovers, scoring 21 points off those miscues. … Harrison Barnes recorded a game-high 22 points, marking the first time in his career that he scored at least 20 points in back-to-back regular season games. … Marreese Speights scored 13 points, leading the Warriors’ second unit, which featured three players in double-figures (Leandro Barbosa with 12 points, Andre Iguodala with 10).
Follow @SFBay and @NBASarah on Twitter and at SFBay.ca for full coverage of the Golden State Warriors.
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