AP

Ingram scores 32, Pelicans beat depleted Warriors 101-96

Jan 6, 2022, 5:57 AM | Updated: 9:18 pm

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) battles for a loose ball against Golden State Warr...

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) battles for a loose ball against Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. The Pelicans won 101-96. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)


              New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) battles for a loose ball against Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. The Pelicans won 101-96. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
            
              Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr calls out from the bench in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
            
              New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart (3) and forward Brandon Ingram (14) talk between plays in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. The Pelicans won 101-96. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
            
              New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green calls out from the bench in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. The Pelicans won 101-96. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
            
              New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (5) goes to the basket over Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. The Pelicans won 101-96. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
            
              Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins goes to the basket abasing New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
            
              Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
            
              Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole helps up guard Damion Lee in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
            
              Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) goes to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
            
              Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry watches from the bench in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
            
              New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) knocks the ball away from Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
            
              New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Brandon Ingram broke out of a shooting slump with 32 points and the New Orleans Pelicans snapped a three-game skid with a 101-96 victory over the depleted Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.

“You could tell from the start of the game that he was playing at a different pace,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said of Ingram, who made 12 of 20 shots after hitting just 8 of 36 in his previous two games back from a sore Achilles. “He was aggressive, and he had intention. He knew where he wanted to get, and he got to his spots and jumped up and shot the ball. He got to the free throw line. It just took him a couple games to get back in rhythm.”

Warriors’ leading scorer Stephen Curry was ruled out after hurting his left quad during a loss a night earlier in Dallas. Also held out was veteran leader and leading rebounder Draymond Green because of a sore hip.

Meanwhile, both teams apparently were missing their 3-point shooting range, combining to miss 52 shots from deep.

The Pelicans appeared to have the game in hand when they led 94-84 on rookie Herb Jones’ layup with 1:27 to go. Then they nearly self-destructed.

Golden State guard Jordan Poole hit a layup, and after New Orleans’ Gary Clark had Jones’ pass slip off his hands and out of bounds, Poole quickly hit a 30-foot 3. The Warriors then stole the ball from guard Devonte’ Graham in the back court and Jonathan Kuminga hit a layup to make it 94-91 with 51.5 seconds remaining.

After that, the Pelicans hit seven of eight free throws to hold on, with Ingram and Jones each hitting two and Josh Hart making three.

“Being short-handed gives the young guys a good chance to play and experience a pressure-filled game on the road,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “I am proud of the team fighting all the way through, giving themselves a chance at the end. Just didn’t have enough, and the ball didn’t go in enough.”

While Ingram is a former All-Star and established scorer, he said his brief recent shooting slump — which occurred during two Pelicans losses — still bothered him.

“It takes a toll on me throughout the day and the next day until we can get back on the floor,” Ingram said. “Today was definitely a good night for me. My body felt good. I felt good going to the rim. I had a rhythm. I had a good touch to my shot.”

Jones, a second-round draft choice out of Alabama who is quickly becoming a constant in the starting lineup, finished with 13 points and a career-high five steals.

“He’s tremendous. Herb Jones is a ferocious defender, and he’s just becoming a more sound basketball player as we progress,” Green said. “I’ve been saying it all year, but we are excited to have him on our team and excited to see what he’s doing for us.”

Hart scored 14 points and Clark had 10, hitting three of four 3-pointers. Jonas Valanciunas grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked two shots.

Andrew Wiggins scored 21 points. Kuminga scored 13 and Damion Lee added 12 for Golden State, which dropped its second straight.

The Warriors led most of the first half, going up by 11 thanks to a mini-run by Kuminga. After he hit a free throw, he added a put-back and soon after finished a fast break by flushing Iguodala’s alley-oop lob across the lane, making it 27-16.

Ingram checked back in soon after and scored 13 points in the final 6:31 of the half to help the Pelicans go into the break with a 47-46 lead.

TIP-INS

Warriors: Coach Steve Kerr said before the game that it made sense to keep Curry out because the star guard’s injured quad was “pretty sore,” and that keeping him off he court in New Orleans “not only gives him a chance to recover from the injury but gives him a needed break” with the Warriors not slated to play again for three days. … Poole finished with 11 points, with 10 coming in the final 1:11 … Moses Moody scored 10 points. … Missed 26 of 33 3-point attempts.

Pelicans: Missed 17 of their first 21 3-point shots before finishing 8 of 34. … Outrebounded Golden State 46-42. … Committed 18 turnovers, leading to 24 Warriors points, while scoring just seven points off of 14 Warriors turnovers.

UP NEXT

Warriors: Host Cleveland on Sunday.

Pelicans: Visit Toronto on Sunday.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Ingram scores 32, Pelicans beat depleted Warriors 101-96