Moses Moody scored a career-high 32 points, including eight 3-pointers, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 124-106 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday at the Smoothie King Center. Golden State improved to 9-6, while the Pelicans fell to 2-11 under interim head coach James Borrego.
Steve Kerr highlighted Moody’s performance, saying, “That was seven threes in the first quarter. I don’t see that very often. It’s fun to see him shooting the ball so well this year and playing at a high level.” Kerr praised Moody’s growth, noting his improved ability to shoot off the move and come off pin-down screens.
Despite Moody’s hot start, Kerr acknowledged the team’s struggles with turnovers, citing 21 total for Golden State. “We got wild out there,” Kerr said. “But we needed the win. This team is going through it, and it was good to get through this stretch and be in a good spot after our first game in OKC.”
Jimmy Butler added 18 points and 10 assists, helping Golden State extend a second-half lead to 25 points. Brandin Podziemski contributed 19 points, Al Horford scored 11, and Draymond Green grabbed 10 rebounds. Green also had a brief altercation with a fan along the baseline, which did not result in a foul or ejection.
Kerr pointed out the impact of Moody’s shooting on team dynamics. “It’s what every athlete is searching for, that zone, where mind and body come together. You could see Moody had a little smile on his face after each shot—it was beautiful to see.”
Stephen Curry struggled from deep, making just two of 11 attempts for nine points. Kerr attributed the off night partly to fatigue, saying, “Two really emotional games, high-level games in San Antonio, and a natural letdown. The game started loose and free, and as a result, people were a little careless with the ball.”
The Warriors shot 42.9% from three-point range, with Moody leading the charge. Golden State dominated the boards with 47 rebounds and committed just 14 turnovers, compared to 20 by New Orleans. The Pelicans closed to 53-49 late in the second quarter, but could not overcome the Warriors’ shooting and depth.
Looking ahead, Kerr emphasized the team’s schedule and recovery. “We finally get a little practice time. Hopefully guys will feel good, and we can settle into the season a little bit. We have tough back-to-backs, but it’s great to finish strong after this stretch.”
Golden State will face the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, while the Pelicans host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
