Both were looking to the future, and to ping pong balls more specifically, as each team was “resting” some fairly significant players that may or may not have been injured. The Warriors were in a uniquely precarious position, as they owed their pick to the Utah if it did not fall into the top 7. Going into that game, they had the 8th worst record in the league, and a win would almost guarantee that they lost the pick. Meanwhile, New Orleans was tied with the Wizards for the 2nd worst record in the NBA, just one game worse than Cleveland, who sat at 21 wins.
The Night That Changed the Pelicans and Warriors Fates Forever
