Klay Thompson scores 27 points, Warriors beat Pelicans 108-99

SAN FRANCISCO(AP) — Klay Thompson scored 27 points and hit the go-ahead3-pointer, helping the Golden State Warriors wrap up a perfecthomestand with a 108-99 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans onFriday night.

The Warriorswent 5-0 on the homestand despite missing injured star StephenCurry to strengthen their playoff positioning in the ultra-tightWestern Conference.

“I think justa lot of grit,” coach Steve Kerr said. “Every one of these wins wasmarked by our team kind of getting over the hump. Overcoming a lotof deficits, turning up the defense and grinding out games down thestretch. It’s been exciting to see our team turn a corner, but westill need to go out and win on the road.”

JonathanKuminga added 19 points off the bench to help the Warriors overcomea 17-point deficit in the first half. Golden State rallied fromdouble-digit deficits to win the last four games — the first timethey have done that since at least the 1997-98 season.

CJ McCollumscored 25 points and Brandon Ingram added 17 for New Orleans. ThePelicans have lost five of six games as they were outscored 19-6 inthe final 4:30.

“They justmade plays,” New Orleans coach Willie Green said. “That’s an areathat we have to continue to grow and mature. ... Those are learningexperiences for us. That’s a good team, a championship level team.Those guys know how to win. Our margin for error is small,especially down the stretch like that.”

New Orleansled by four points in the fourth quarter before Anthony Lamb andThompson hit back-to-back 3-pointers with Thompson’s giving GoldenState a 95-93 lead with less than four minutes to play.

DonteDiVincenzo hit another 3 for his first basket of the game and thengot an offensive rebound and assist on a dunk by Kuminga to make it100-96 and Golden State held on from there.

“He loves thebig moments and it doesn’t matter if he’s been hot or hasn’t made ashot like tonight,” Kerr said about DiVincenzo. “He’s ready for thebig one. Between that shot and the offensive board with the pass toJK. He just continues to make huge plays.”

The Warriorsonce again found themselves in an early hole, falling behind 17-6in the opening minutes and then by 17 points late in the firstquarter.

This markedthe fourth straight game they trailed by double-digits in the firsthalf and just like the previous three games they flipped thescript.

Golden Staterallied back to take a 50-49 lead on a basket by Kuminga late inthe half and trailed 57-54 at the break.

CURRY’S RETURN

The Warriorsare hoping to get Curry back on the upcoming trip, possibly as soonas Sunday in Los Angeles against the Lakers.

“There’s achance he’ll play and we’re not going to make an decisions until hegets through tomorrow,” Kerr said.

Curry hasmissed 11th games with a left leg injury after getting hurt againstDallas on Feb. 4. Golden State is 7-4 in this current stretch and14-12 on the season without Curry in the lineup.

TIP-INS

Pelicans: CJonas Valanciunas (left calf) was sidelined for a second straightgame. ... Swingman Josh Richardson (personal reasons) sat out thegame.

Warriors: FAndrew Wiggins sat out a seventh consecutive game while dealingwith a family matter and Kerr didn’t know if he would return duringthe upcoming road trip. ... F Andre Iguodala (hip) has been takingpart of scrimmages but there is no timeline for his return.

UPNEXT

Pelicans:Visit Sacramento on Monday night to finish three-game trip.

Warriors:Visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday to start a three-gametrip.