The New Orleans Pelicans picked the Portland Trail Blazers apart during a four-game first-round sweep, but Saturday they were reminded that the Golden State Warriors are an entirely different beast.
Even without Stephen Curry, who is nearing a return from a sprained MCL, the defending champions ran roughshod over the Pelicans for a vintage 123-101 Game 1 Western Conference semifinal win at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.
J.A. AdandeThis is the most the Warriors have looked like the Warriors in a long while
Kevin Durant (26 points) and Klay Thompson (27 points) headlined the proceedings, while Draymond Green served as the two-way engine who fueled the blowout.