The Warriors will be on a very warm seat Saturday, when the close out the regular season against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena.
Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 5 p.m., with tipoff scheduled for 5:35.
After a roundly discouraging 20-point loss at Indiana prompted coach Steve Kerr to scold his team for indifference and star forward Kevin Durant to disagree with that assessment, the Warriors (57-22) will try to put the pieces back together in the home finale as they close out the regular season.
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The Pelicans (45-34) are one of six teams vying for the final five postseason berths within the Western Conference. If the regular season had ended Friday, they would face the Warriors in the first round.
BETTING LINE
Warriors by 6.5
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Golden State Warriors
Draymond Green vs. Anthony Davis: In the 29 games since DeMarcus Cousins was lost for the season, Davis leads the NBA in scoring (30.3 ppg) and blocks (3.0), is third in steals (2.0), fifth in rebounds (12.1), double-doubles (22) and minutes (36.5). He has never finished higher than fifth in MVP voting, but that’s likely to change this season. Containing him is always the key to slowing the Pelicans, and no one knows that better than Green, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Davis also can expect an occasional dose of Kevin Durant.
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: F/G Andre Iguodala (L knee soreness) and G/F Nick Young (flu-like symptoms) are listed as probable. G Shaun Livingston (R knee soreness) is listed as doubtful. F Omri Casspi (R ankle sprain), G Stephen Curry (L MCL sprain) and G Pat McCaw (lumbosacral bone bruise) are listed as out.
Pelicans: C Alexis Ajinca (R knee surgery), G Ian Clark (R ankle sprain) C/F DeMarcus Cousins (L Achilles rupture), G Frank Jackson (R foot fracture) are listed as out.
LAST 10
Warriors: 5-5.
Pelicans: 5-5.
GAME OFFICIALS
James Capers (crew chief), Tyler Ford, Josh Tiven
SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors won the first three meetings this season, Oct. 20 at New Orleans (128-120), Nov. 25 in Oakland (110-95) and Dec. 4 at New Orleans (125-115). They have won the last 10 meetings and are 13-1 against the Pelicans in the Steve Kerr era.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
INTENSITY LEVEL: Coach Steve Kerr admonished his team for “caring” in a 126-106 loss at Indiana on Thursday, and Kevin Durant notably took exception to that assessment. There undoubtedly has been conversation on the topic. Perhaps the combination of that ugly loss and this being the home finale will spur the Warriors.
IGUODALA RETURNS: Sixth Man Andre Iguodala, absent the last four games with tendinitis in his left knee, is expected back. As maybe the team’s primary “glue” guy, he was missed at both ends. He was playing well and looking active prior to being sidelined. If he can pick up where he left off, it’s a huge benefit to the Warriors.
UNWANTED HISTORY: Not once in 71 seasons of existence, in two different states, have the Warriors ever won fewer games at home than on the road. A loss in the home finale opens that undesirable possibility. They are 29-11 at home and 28-11 on the road, where they have two games remaining.