Warriors carry hot streak into New Orleans
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(SportsNetwork.com) - Best record in the NBA. Check. Best road record in the league. Check. A franchise-best winning streak. Check.
The Golden State Warriors have it all together and they will shoot for a 16th consecutive win Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans in the Big Easy.
Golden State opened a three-game road trip with Saturday's 105-98 victory against the Dallas Mavericks, so the record winning streak could be at risk on short days' rest. The Warriors became the first team to reach 20 wins (20-2) and Stephen Curry led three players with at least 20 points in Big D.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Curry finished with 29 points and handed out eight assists, and is shooting 50 percent from the floor and averaging 24.0 points and 7.6 assists over his past 10 games. Klay Thompson netted 25 points and made 5-of-11 3-pointers, while Draymond Green delivered 20 points and eight boards.
"Fifteen wins in a row, it's hard to fathom," said Thompson. "This is a special group."
The Warriors have been special on the road, going 12-1 with nine straight wins outside of Oakland. Golden State has won 30 of the last 39 road games. It is first in field goal percentage (48.0) and third in scoring with 106.7 ppg.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Opponents are scoring 95.7 ppg against the Warriors.
Golden State hasn't lost since Nov. 11 versus San Antonio and will close the road trip Tuesday at Memphis.
The Pelicans recently disposed of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers with Friday's 119-114 victory, but it came with a price. Young star Anthony Davis suffered a bruised chest in the first quarter and did not return.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Davis played only seven minutes, scoring eight points and grabbing one rebound, and is questionable Sunday. The Pelicans picked up the slack without Davis in the lineup and were led by Tyreke Evans' 31 points and 10 assists.
Ryan Anderson hit 8-of-14 3-pointers en route to 30 points and Jrue Holiday chipped in 16 points and eight assists. James paced the Cavs with 41 points on 17-of-24 shooting, but New Orleans shot 55.7 percent and hit 12-of-28 from beyond the arc.
"To beat a team like that without AD (Davis) and have as many contributions across the board was special," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Anderson felt the same way about the team's play without Davis.
"This was a game that we knew that we had to fight extra hard without (Davis)," Anderson said. "This was a huge win for us so I'm really happy with the way we played."
Davis, who spent Friday night at a hospital, is averaging 24.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New Orleans has won three of four games and improved to 7-2 at home. The homestand will conclude Tuesday versus the Utah Jazz.
The Pelicans and Warriors will play the second of four meetings Sunday, and Golden State posted a 112-85 win on Dec. 4 out west. Curry had 19 points and 11 assists in that one, and Davis pumped in 30 points and 15 boards.
Golden State has won eight in a row against New Orleans and is unbeaten in the previous six trips to the Big Easy. Sunday's game will feature some of the best long distance shooters in Curry, Thompson and Anderson.