Post by : Maya Rahman

The Golden State Warriors triumphed with a strong 124-106 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night, with Moses Moody emerging as the standout player. Moody put forth an impressive performance, tallying 32 points and setting a franchise record by sinking seven three-pointers in the first quarter. His exceptional shooting display paved the way for an early lead that the Warriors maintained throughout the game.

This matchup marked James Borrego's debut as the interim head coach of the Pelicans, but it proved a challenging start for him. The Pelicans struggled defensively, allowing the Warriors to capitalize on numerous opportunities. Stephen Curry, the team's usual scoring powerhouse, had a sluggish start, making his first basket only in the third quarter, yet the Warriors played with assurance and strength all game long.

Curry had come off a strong performance in San Antonio, scoring 46 and 49 points, but the Pelicans heavily focused their defense on him, resulting in a difficult shooting night. He ended with just nine points on 2-for-11 shooting. Nevertheless, Moody's confident play provided the Warriors with the scoring they needed.

After falling behind 6-2 early, the dynamics shifted dramatically when Moody got hot. He knocked down his first three-pointer at the 9:53 mark of the opening quarter and continued to pour in shots, netting four more threes in rapid succession. By the end of the first quarter, he had racked up 21 points.

Moody's remarkable shooting stats showed he was 7-for-8 from three-point range in the first quarter, just one short of Kevin Love's record for the most three-pointers made in a single quarter, achieved in 2016. His achievement places him among just eight players in NBA history to sink seven or more three-pointers in the first quarter, joining the likes of Curry and Klay Thompson.

At game's end, Moody had made eight three-pointers out of 12 attempts, shooting 10-for-16 overall. This surpasses his previous scoring record of 30 points set in 2022, marking a new personal best. His scoring prowess helped the Warriors maintain control throughout the game.

The Warriors also received strong contributions from teammates. Jimmy Butler III logged an 18-point, 10-assist double-double, facilitating the offense even during Curry's off night. Brandin Podziemski came off the bench to contribute 19 points, while Buddy Hield chipped in with 11 points. Draymond Green made significant contributions on defense, notching 10 rebounds, the highest of the game, along with eight points, six assists, and two steals.

For the Pelicans, Trey Murphy III led the scoring with 20 points, while Jose Alvarado added 18, Jeremiah Fears contributed 17 points, and Saddiq Bey scored 11. However, the Pelicans fell behind 44-28 after just one quarter due to the Warriors' blistering start. Despite attempts to rally, New Orleans could never close the gap to fewer than four points after the initial quarter. This marked their fifth consecutive loss.

The Warriors celebrated their third straight victory during their lengthy six-game road trip. Moody's breakout performance illustrates that Golden State boasts multiple scoring options, ensuring their competitiveness even when Curry isn't at his best. If Moody continues to showcase such confidence, the Warriors could become an even greater threat as the season unfolds.

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