Warriors visit the Big Easy to face Pelicans
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(SportsNetwork.com) - In a possible playoff preview, the Golden State Warriors will finish off a three-game road trip Tuesday night versus the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center.
The Warriors clinched the Pacific Division title and homecourt throughout both the Western Conference playoffs as well as a potential NBA Finals trip.
The Pelicans trail the Oklahoma City Thunder by a half-game for the eighth and final postseason berth in the conference. OKC hosts the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Golden State opened its three-game trek with a win over Dallas, but couldn't crack the defending champion Spurs on Sunday. The Warriors fell, 107-92 to end a 12-game winning streak.
The Warriors lost for the 32nd straight time in San Antonio.
Stephen Curry posted 24 points and six assists as the lone bright spot for Golden State.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We made a couple of mini runs but couldn't get over the hump and make enough stops," said Curry.
Leandro Barbosa (12), Andrew Bogut (10) and Andre Iguodala (10) were the other double-figure scorers for the Warriors.
The spread was 19 at the half and Curry did all he could to keep the Warriors remotely close in the third. After Kawhi Leonard's jumper stretched San Antonio's lead to 63-40, Curry scored Golden State's next 13 points, but the deficit remained in double digits. His 3-pointer with over eight minutes left trimmed the margin to 67-53, then the Spurs followed with six straight points.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}San Antonio led 89-67 after three quarters and coasted to the win in the fourth.
The Spurs are the only team to beat the Warriors twice this season.
Shaun Livingston should be back in the lineup Tuesday after a one-game suspension for striking Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki in the groin area.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Golden State will finish this magical regular season with four straight at home.
The Pelicans had a four-game winning streak halted Saturday thanks to a 99-90 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center.
Anthony Davis had 19 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in the setback, while Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans scored 22 and 21 points, respectively.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Every game we're in feels like a playoff game for us," said Davis. "Every time we play on the road the atmosphere is like the playoffs."
After Davis tied the game at 85-85 with his putback at 4:23, Nicolas Batum hit from deep to jumpstart a 10-0 Portland run. Lillard hit three free throws during the surge, which Aldridge capped with a dunk at 2:18.
Lillard's layup with just over a minute to play was the dagger.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Pelicans hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Thunder if it should come down to that. New Orleans plays three at home and three on the road to finish out the campaign, but two of the road matchups are in Memphis and Houston.
The Warriors have won 10 straight over the Pelicans, which is their longest current winning streak against one team.