Lindy Waters stars in comeback victory vs. Pelicans – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

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SAN FRANCISCO – The amount of Warriors’ depth was never in doubt as coach Steve Kerr used a 12-man rotation in each of Golden State’s first three games, even playing as many as 14. The quality of the team’s many pieces is, what was put to the test Tuesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans without Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins and De’Anthony Melton.

Early on, the results were harsh. Once the Warriors settled down and found the right combinations, however, Golden State rolled and the Chase Center rocked in a 124-106 victory. The Warriors outscored the Pelicans in the final three quarters 110-75, a 35-point advantage.

Brandin Podziemski was phenomenal in Curry’s place at point guard. The second-year pro was a plus-17 with 19 points and five assists. Buddy Hield caught fire in the second half, going a perfect 6 of 6 from 3-point range in the final two quarters for a team-high 28 points. Perhaps the biggest story of the night was Lindy Waters, who scored 21 points in 30 minutes off the bench.

The Warriors took care of the ball much better, totaling 34 assists and turning it over just eight times. Their swarming defense also came up with 14 steals, and the Warriors scored 32 points off 32 Pelicans turnovers.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ comeback win.

Surprising starting line-up

Down with two starters in Curry and Wiggins, as well as a key reserve in Melton, Kerr shocked many with his starting lineup. Podziemski replaced Curry at point guard, but Jonathan Kuminga was moved to the bench after three games. In came Hield and Moses Moody to join Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

The first look was not pretty or successful in any facet of the game. Trailing 31-14 after the first quarter, the Warriors were dominated up and down the court. While every Pelicans starter scored in the first quarter, only two Warriors starters scored as Podziemski provided seven points and Moody added three. Kerr’s starters did not play together again for the rest of the first half.

Nor were they on the floor together to begin the second half. Or at all the rest of the game.

The Warriors will again be without at least Curry and Melton on Wednesday for the second night of a back-to-back against the Pelicans, and it will be incredibly interesting to see what changes, if any, Kerr makes to his starting five.

Kuminga’s answer

In less than five minutes, Kuminga was off the bench for Moody. But his shots weren’t falling, and Kuminga was a minus-13 in the Warriors’ ugly first quarter. His second quarter, like the rest of the Warriors, was much better as Kuminga hit two of Golden State’s nine steals in the first half and scored six more points.

He did not return to the game until five minutes remained in the third quarter, again replacing Moody. Upon his return, Kuminga quickly displayed the kind of offense that suits him best: two dribbles and a layup to push the Warriors’ lead to six points. Immediately after, Kuminga made his impact felt on both sides of the field.

Like all his teammates, Kuminga got better and better as the match went on. He could have rumbled and played out of control. Instead, Kuminga scored an efficient 17 points off the bench on 6-of-13 shooting.

Wet water

When Kerr was asked about Waters before the previous game, the Warriors coach said he would have no problem starting the sharpshooter. Kerr didn’t go that far, but Waters was in the game in the first quarter. Waters missed his lone shot, a 3-pointer, in the first quarter, but then put up big minutes in the second quarter as the Warriors outscored the Pelicans 33-20.

In the second quarter, Waters went 3 of 5 from the field and made his lone 3-point attempt for nine points. In addition, he grabbed five rebounds – three offensive and two defensive. And then Kerr rewarded Waters by starting him coming out of the break and replacing Hield.

Within the first 30 seconds of the second half, Waters hit a 3-pointer to get the Warriors’ offense going. The 3-point line is where Waters is expected to make his mark, but he also proved to be more than a specialist.

During the preseason and in his early season options, general manager Mike Dunleavy appears to have found a gem in Waters. Seen as a long-range weapon, Waters also had a career-high nine rebounds and was a game-best plus-26. His opportunities will certainly continue.

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