NBA: Golden State Warriors vs New Orleans Pelicans (02/24/26)

Game Preview

Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans meet in a matchup that should feel like a measuring stick for two teams trying to stack quality wins down the stretch. Golden State’s identity still leans heavily on perimeter volume and shot-making, while New Orleans has shown it can win in multiple styles depending on game flow. With both clubs hovering around similar recent efficiency levels, a few key rotation decisions and late-game execution could swing this one. Expect a tactical battle between three-point math and rebounding/possession control.

Game Information

Date	Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-Off	8:00 PM EST
Location	Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Broadcast	Check local listings

Injury Report

New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

• Out: Trey Murphy III; Yves Missi; Micah Peavy
• Doubtful: None
• Questionable: None

Golden State Warriors Injuries

• Out: Stephen Curry; Kristaps Porzingis
• Doubtful: None
• Questionable: Al Horford; Draymond Green; De’Anthony Melton

Player Impact Summary: New Orleans’ absences are spread across role players, with a combined usage-weighted impact of about -14.1, while Golden State’s report is headlined by Curry being out and multiple rotation pieces questionable. Even though the Warriors’ aggregate impact number is smaller, the star-level removal changes their late-clock shot creation and can tighten their margin for error.

Pace & Efficiency Matchup

Golden State Warriors

In recent action, Golden State has played at a steady 99.2 pace while leaning hard into the three-ball, launching about 48.8 threes per game and getting over half of its shots from deep with a 55.0% three-point attempt rate. The shooting has been solid with a 55.4% effective field goal mark and 57.7% true shooting, but ball security is a concern at 15.6 turnovers per game. Defensively, their recent profile sits in the mid-pack range, keeping games competitive but not consistently generating separation.

New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans has also played around average tempo with a 98.5 pace and has produced a stronger recent scoring efficiency, posting a 115.7 offensive rating over their last 10 games. Their shot profile is more balanced than Golden State’s, with about 35.1 three-point attempts per game and a 39.1% three-point attempt rate, while still maintaining a respectable 53.6% effective field goal percentage and 57.1% true shooting. They’ve taken better care of the ball at 11.5 turnovers per game and have been steady on the glass with a 24.7% offensive rebounding rate.

Edge: New Orleans’ cleaner possession game shows up in the turnover gap, which matters against a Warriors team that can be streaky and variance-heavy due to extreme three-point volume. Pace is nearly identical, so this is less about tempo and more about which team wins the possession battle and executes late.

Rest & Travel Analysis

Factor	Golden State Warriors	New Orleans Pelicans
Miles Traveled (L10)	2,937	4,121
Timezone Jumps	4	2
Travel Fatigue Index	7.36	8.87
Back-to-Back?	No	No

Fatigue Edge: The travel slate slightly favors Golden State: fewer miles and a lower travel fatigue index suggest they’re marginally better positioned physically. That said, neither team is on a back-to-back, so the advantage is more subtle than decisive.

Lineup Synergy & Ref Tendencies

Synergy Score: Golden State Warriors: -5.09 | New Orleans Pelicans: -0.17

Synergy Edge: Both teams grade negative, but New Orleans is much closer to neutral, indicating their rotations have functioned more cohesively than Golden State’s in recent combinations. In a near-pick’em spread, that stability can matter in the non-star minutes.

Referee Edge: Home Ref Impact: 0.14 | Away Ref Impact: 0.12 | Net Edge: 0.02

The officiating lean is essentially neutral with only a slight home tilt. In a game expected to be tight, it’s a minor tailwind rather than a primary driver.

Why Golden State Warriors Covers

Golden State’s clearest path is simple: win the math battle from three and keep the game in a high-variance zone. They’re generating extreme perimeter volume at about 48.8 threes per game, and if that shot diet is even moderately efficient, it can overwhelm a more balanced opponent in short bursts. The travel profile also tilts slightly their way, with fewer miles in the last 10 days and a lower travel fatigue index, which can help legs late. If New Orleans can’t consistently punish them on the glass or fails to convert turnovers into points, the Warriors can dictate spacing, create long rebounds, and turn the game into a shot-making contest where a couple of runs decide the spread.

Why New Orleans Pelicans Covers

New Orleans’ case starts with possession control. Over their last 10 games, they’ve protected the ball well at just 11.5 turnovers per game, while Golden State has been looser at 15.6, creating a meaningful shot-attempt edge in a one-possession spread. The Pelicans have also been the more efficient recent offense, producing a 115.7 offensive rating with steady shot quality. The biggest swing factor is availability: Golden State is without Stephen Curry and has multiple rotation pieces listed questionable, which can thin lineup options and reduce late-clock creation. Add in the strong relative synergy profile for New Orleans, and the home side looks better built to withstand cold stretches and grind out the final few possessions.

The Pick

New Orleans Pelicans +1.5 (-110)