Cousins leads Warriors past Pelicans; Curry leaves hurt
NEW ORLEANS (AP) DeMarcus Cousins played a season-high 35 minutes while visiting the city he called home last season, drawing a mix of cheers and boos during a productive performance.
His former teammate, Anthony Davis, sat on the end of the Pelicans' bench in street clothes for what likely was his last game with the team that made him the face of the franchise when it drafted him seven years ago.
Cousins had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Pelicans 112-103 on Tuesday night in a game that also saw guard Stephen Curry leave with a mild foot sprain.
''He's going to be fine,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Curry. ''He tweaked it, but we weren't going to mess around.''
Curry, who played the first nine minutes of the game, did not speak with reporters but also did not appear particularly distressed as he sat at his locker signing basketball shoes and showed no signs of a limp as he left the arena.
Golden State, which already had clinched the top playoff seed in the Western Conference, also played without several other prominent players, including forward Kevin Durant, who was listed out with an illness, and guard Klay Thompson, who was given an opportunity to rest his sore right knee.
The likely end of the Davis era in New Orleans arrived unceremoniously. The disgruntled six-time All-Star, who missed his seventh straight game with what the team has listed as back spasms, wore a T-shirt with the famous Looney Toons sign off, ''That's All Folks,'' written across the chest. As he walked down the tunnel toward the locker room after the game, he gave one fan a high-five.
Davis is under contract through next season, but has asked to be traded - and is expected to be dealt this offseason by a new general manager that the Pelicans have yet to hire.
When the game ended, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry described Davis as ''a great kid'' who ''got some bad advice,'' referring to Davis' agent, Rich Paul, who also represents LeBron James and who orchestrated a public, mid-season trade demand for which Davis was fined $50,000.
''But there's nothing wrong with A.D.,'' Gentry added. ''He's a good, solid guy with good character.''
Cousins was playing in New Orleans for the first time since tearing his Achilles as a member of the Pelicans in January 2018.
As he finished dressing in the locker room after the game, Cousins smiled and acknowledged reporters who approached, but dissuaded them from asking questions by asserting he had nothing to say.
''Write what y'all want. That's what you do anyway,'' Cousins said. ''Y'all have a wonderful evening.''
Damion Lee, who has a two-way contract with Golden State and has spent much of this season in the G-League, matched his career high with 20 points. Former Pelican Quinn Cook scored 19 points.
Christian Wood had 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Pelicans, who closed out the season with 13 losses in their last 16 games as they mixed and matched lineups of primarily young or recently acquired players they sought to evaluate for the future.
Jahlil Okafor scored 30 points and Ian Clark 20 for New Orleans.
TIP-INS
Warriors: Forward Andre Iguodala (left toe soreness) and Andrew Bogut (rest) also did not play. ... Louisiana native Jacob Evans scored 11 points, while Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell each scored 10.
Pelicans: Diallo, who came in 0 for 3 on the season from 3-point range, hit a 3 from along the right sideline late in the first half and held up three fingers as he ran back toward the defensive end. He finished with 11 points.
WHAT A RUN
Golden State owns at least a tie for the best six-season stretch in NBA history, going 373-118 in the regular season from 2013-2018. Boston went 373-119 from 1980 to 1985. Golden State can eclipse that mark by winning its finale Wednesday.
LEE'S FATE
Lee, who turned pro in 2016 out of Louisville, said he is aware he probably won't be on the Warriors' playoff roster, but was grateful for his experience with Golden State this season.
''Picking up all this knowledge, this experience ... is something that I can cherish forever,'' Lee said, adding that he also appreciated the Warriors providing him a platform ''to showcase myself on the NBA level.''
UP NEXT
Warriors: Visit Memphis on Wednesday night.
Pelicans: Head into what promises to be the making of an eventful offseason that will include the hiring of a new general manager and a likely trade of Davis.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jumpball | |||
11:44 | Kenrich Williams missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
11:39 | Defensive rebound by Alfonzo McKinnie | |||
11:28 | DeMarcus Cousins missed fade-away jump shot | |||
11:24 | Defensive rebound by Christian Wood | |||
11:07 | DeMarcus Cousins missed layup | |||
11:05 | Defensive rebound by Christian Wood | |||
10:54 | Defensive rebound by Draymond Green | |||
10:42 | Alfonzo McKinnie missed jump shot | |||
10:39 | Defensive rebound by Christian Wood | |||
10:24 | Ian Clark missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:21 | Defensive rebound by DeMarcus Cousins | |||
10:10 | +2 | Christian Wood made alley-oop shot, assist by Jahlil Okafor | 0-2 | |
9:49 | Stephen Curry missed jump shot | |||
9:46 | Defensive rebound by Kenrich Williams | |||
9:32 | Elfrid Payton missed hook shot | |||
9:30 | Defensive rebound by DeMarcus Cousins | |||
9:29 | Jacob Evans missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:27 | NO team rebound | |||
9:12 | +2 | Jahlil Okafor made jump shot, assist by Elfrid Payton | 0-4 | |
9:01 | Draymond Green missed layup | |||
8:46 | Defensive rebound by DeMarcus Cousins | |||
8:42 | Bad pass turnover on Stephen Curry, stolen by Kenrich Williams | |||
8:37 | Ian Clark missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
8:28 | Out of bounds turnover on DeMarcus Cousins | |||
8:09 | Jahlil Okafor missed hook shot | |||
8:07 | Defensive rebound by Draymond Green | |||
8:01 | +3 | Stephen Curry made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Draymond Green | 3-4 | |
7:45 | Personal foul on Ian Clark | |||
7:35 | +2 | Jacob Evans made jump shot | 5-4 | |
7:15 | Defensive rebound by Alfonzo McKinnie | |||
7:05 | Draymond Green missed floating jump shot | |||
7:03 | Defensive rebound by Jahlil Okafor | |||
6:50 | Ian Clark missed jump shot | |||
6:46 | Defensive rebound by Jacob Evans | |||
6:36 | Stephen Curry missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
6:24 | +2 | Elfrid Payton made reverse layup | 5-6 | |
6:05 | DeMarcus Cousins missed hook shot | |||
6:03 | Defensive rebound by Jahlil Okafor | |||
5:56 | Ian Clark missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:52 | Defensive rebound by DeMarcus Cousins | |||
5:47 | +2 | DeMarcus Cousins made dunk | 7-6 | |
5:47 | Shooting foul on Ian Clark | |||
5:47 | DeMarcus Cousins missed free throw | |||
5:43 | Defensive rebound by Christian Wood | |||
5:31 | Kenrich Williams missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:28 | Offensive rebound by Christian Wood | |||
5:26 | Lost ball turnover on Ian Clark, stolen by Jacob Evans | |||
5:09 | Defensive rebound by Draymond Green | |||
4:58 | DeMarcus Cousins missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:08 | Defensive rebound by Draymond Green | |||
4:58 | DeMarcus Cousins missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:19 | Offensive foul on DeMarcus Cousins | |||
4:19 | Turnover on DeMarcus Cousins | |||
4:19 | Personal foul on DeMarcus Cousins | |||
3:47 | +2 | Alfonzo McKinnie made layup, assist by Stephen Curry | 9-8 | |
3:34 | +2 | Jahlil Okafor made fade-away jump shot, assist by Ian Clark | 9-10 | |
3:21 | Lost ball turnover on Stephen Curry, stolen by Jahlil Okafor | |||
3:16 | Full timeout called | |||
2:31 | Personal foul on Quinn Cook | |||
2:20 | Damion Lee missed floating jump shot | |||
2:18 | Personal foul on Kevon Looney | |||
2:05 | +2 | Ian Clark made jump shot, assist by Dairis Bertans | 11-15 | |
1:51 | Shooting foul on Christian Wood | |||
1:51 | +1 | Damion Lee made 1st of 2 free throws | 12-15 | |
1:38 | +2 | Ian Clark made jump shot | 13-17 | |
1:21 | Defensive rebound by Cheick Diallo | |||
1:06 | Defensive rebound by Damion Lee | |||
0:59 | +2 | Damion Lee made jump shot, assist by Draymond Green | 15-17 | |
0:41 | Defensive rebound by Damion Lee | |||
0:33 | Out of bounds turnover on Damion Lee | |||
0:12 | Christian Wood missed driving layup | |||
0:11 | Offensive rebound by Christian Wood | |||
0:11 | +2 | Christian Wood made dunk | 15-19 | |
0:00 | Bad pass turnover on Christian Wood, stolen by Damion Lee | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:41 | jump shot | |||
11:32 | Jonas Jerebko missed layup, blocked by Elfrid Payton | |||
11:28 | Defensive rebound by Elfrid Payton | |||
11:24 | Cheick Diallo missed jump shot | |||
11:24 | Defensive rebound by Quinn Cook | |||
11:05 | +2 | Jonas Jerebko made layup, assist by Quinn Cook | 20-19 | |
10:45 | +2 | Solomon Hill made jump shot | 20-21 | |
10:14 | Defensive rebound by Shaun Livingston | |||
10:00 | +3 | 3-pt. jump shot | 25-21 | |
9:42 | Defensive rebound by DeMarcus Cousins | |||
9:36 | Quinn Cook missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:34 | Defensive rebound by Solomon Hill | |||
9:26 | +2 | Cheick Diallo made hook shot, assist by Solomon Hill | 25-23 | |
9:09 | DeMarcus Cousins missed layup, blocked by Christian Wood | |||
9:02 | +2 | Christian Wood made dunk, assist by Cheick Diallo | 25-25 | |
8:54 | Shooting foul on Solomon Hill | |||
8:54 | Shaun Livingston missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
8:41 | +3 | Christian Wood made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Elfrid Payton | 25-28 | |
8:26 | +2 | Jacob Evans made jump shot, assist by Jonas Jerebko | 27-28 | |
8:08 | +3 | Solomon Hill made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Cheick Diallo | 27-31 | |
7:51 | Jonas Jerebko missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:48 | Defensive rebound by Cheick Diallo | |||
7:33 | Jacob Evans missed driving layup | |||
7:29 | Offensive rebound by Jonas Jerebko | |||
7:27 | +2 | Cheick Diallo made dunk, assist by Solomon Hill | 29-33 | |
7:17 | +2 | DeMarcus Cousins made layup | 31-33 | |
7:17 | Shooting foul on Christian Wood | |||
7:17 | +1 | DeMarcus Cousins made free throw | 32-33 | |
7:12 | Bad pass turnover on Elfrid Payton, stolen by DeMarcus Cousins | |||
7:07 | Shooting foul on Cheick Diallo | |||
7:07 | DeMarcus Cousins missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
7:07 | GS team rebound | |||
7:07 | +1 | DeMarcus Cousins made 2nd of 2 free throws | 33-33 | |
6:51 | +3 | Ian Clark made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Elfrid Payton | 33-36 | |
6:36 | +2 | Christian Wood made dunk, assist by Elfrid Payton | 35-38 | |
6:20 | +2 | DeMarcus Cousins made layup, assist by Quinn Cook | 37-38 | |
6:04 | +2 | Jahlil Okafor made dunk | 37-40 | |
5:49 | Shooting foul on Jahlil Okafor | |||
5:49 | +1 | DeMarcus Cousins made 1st of 2 free throws | 38-40 | |
5:30 | Personal foul on Jordan Bell | |||
5:22 | Bad pass turnover on Elfrid Payton, stolen by Alfonzo McKinnie | |||
5:17 | +2 | Jordan Bell made dunk, assist by DeMarcus Cousins | 41-40 | |
5:04 | Personal foul on Quinn Cook | |||
4:51 | +3 | Kenrich Williams made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ian Clark | 41-43 | |
4:27 | DeMarcus Cousins missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:20 | +2 | Jacob Evans made layup, assist by Jordan Bell | 43-43 | |
3:57 | Jahlil Okafor missed jump shot, blocked by DeMarcus Cousins | |||
3:57 | GS team rebound | |||
3:50 | Jumpball | |||
3:36 | Defensive rebound by Jahlil Okafor | |||
3:28 | Shooting foul on Jacob Evans | |||
3:28 | NO team rebound | |||
3:28 | +1 | Elfrid Payton made 2nd of 2 free throws | 43-44 | |
3:07 | DeMarcus Cousins missed jump shot | |||
3:04 | Offensive rebound by Jordan Bell | |||
2:44 | +2 | Jahlil Okafor made layup | 46-46 | |
2:30 | +3 | DeMarcus Cousins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Alfonzo McKinnie | 49-46 | |
2:05 | +2 | Kenrich Williams made dunk | 49-48 | |
1:52 | Alfonzo McKinnie missed driving layup | |||
1:47 | +2 | Jahlil Okafor made layup | 49-50 | |
1:47 | Shooting foul on Jacob Evans | |||
1:47 | Jahlil Okafor missed free throw | |||
1:43 | Defensive rebound by Alfonzo McKinnie | |||
1:32 | Damion Lee missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
1:24 | +2 | Jordan Bell made dunk | 51-50 | |
1:06 | +3 | Ian Clark made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Elfrid Payton | 51-53 | |
0:31 | Lost ball turnover on Jahlil Okafor, stolen by Alfonzo McKinnie | |||
0:29 | Personal foul on Elfrid Payton | |||
0:29 | GS team rebound | |||
0:29 | +1 | Alfonzo McKinnie made 2nd of 2 free throws | 54-53 | |
0:11 | +3 | Cheick Diallo made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kenrich Williams | 54-56 | |
0:02 | +2 | Jordan Bell made driving layup, assist by Damion Lee | 56-56 | |
0:00 | End of period |