OAKLAND -- The third quarter tends to be when the magic happens for the Warriors, and they found it once again Tuesday night. It was enough to take them into the Western Conference Finals.
With Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson combining for 75 points, and Draymond Green ringing up a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double, the Warriors posted a 113-104 victory over New Orleans in Game 5 to take the conference semifinals.
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Limiting the Pelicans to 30.4-percent shooting in the third quarter, the Warriors outscored the Pelicans 36-19 in the period and held on down the stretch.
STANDOUT PERFORMER:
Thompson was hot early, but went cold in the second half while Curry and Durant were efficient and submitted solid all-around games.
Curry’s line: 28 points (10-of-16 shooting from the field, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, 5-of-5 from the line), eight assists and seven rebounds. He played 37 minutes and finished plus-9.
Durant’s line: 24 points (10-of-18 shooting, 1-of-4 from deep, seven assists, six rebounds and two steals. He played 37 minutes and finished plus-13.
Golden State Warriors
TURNING POINT:
After taking a 59-56 lead into halftime, the Warriors opened the second half with a 29-6 run, taking an 88-62 lead on a pair of free throw by Curry with 4:38 remaining in the third quarter.
The Warriors took a 95-75 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Pelicans rallied late, getting as close as seven in the final minutes before the Warriors closed it out with a pair of buckets by Green and a tip-in by Kevon Looney.
INJURY UPDATE:
Warriors: G Patrick McCaw (lumbar spine contusion) was listed as out.
Pelicans: C Alexis Ajinca (R knee injury), DeMarcus Cousins (L Achilles rupture) and G Frank Jackson (R foot fracture) were listed as out.
WHAT’S NEXT:
Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Rockets is scheduled for next Monday, May 14, at Toyota Center in Houston.
Here's the full schedule:
