Davis, Pels rout Warrors in Game 3 for first win of series

[May 05, 2018]  Anthony Davis had 33 points and 18 rebounds as the host New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Golden State Warriors 119-100 in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal playoff series Friday night at the Smoothie King Center.

The Pelicans took the lead for good midway through the first quarter as they cut the defending champion Warriors' series lead to 2-1. Game 4 will be played Sunday afternoon in New Orleans

Jrue Holiday added 21 points, Nikola Mirotic had 16 points and 13 rebounds, Ian Clark scored a career-playoff-high 18 points, E'Twaun Moore scored 13 and Rajon Rondo had 21 assists for New Orleans.

Klay Thompson scored 26, Kevin Durant had 22, Stephen Curry, playing in his second game and making his first start since returning from a knee injury, scored 19 and Draymond Green had 11 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists for the Warriors.

The Pelicans made 50 percent of their shots (48 of 96), including 45.2 percent of their 3-point attempts (14 of 31). The Warriors made 38 percent of their shots (35 of 92), including 29 percent of their 3-point attempts (9 of 31).

Davis had two quick baskets as New Orleans began the third quarter with a 10-2 run to build a 72-58 lead.

Green made a free throw, but Davis scored six more points as they Pelicans took an 83-63 lead.

They led by as many as 25 before Durant scored seven points during an 10-2 run that cut New Orleans' lead to 92-75 after three quarters.

Shaun Livingston scored the first basket of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 15, but Clark scored six points as the Pelicans took a 101-79 lead.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) looks down against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter in game three of the second round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Holiday was hot and the Warriors were cold in the early going. He scored 11 points, and the Pelicans made 6 of 10 3-point tries in the first quarter. Golden State made just 9 of 25 shots (36 percent), and New Orleans had a 30-21 lead at the end of the period.

The lead grew to 15 twice before Thompson heated up. He scored 10 points as the Warriors got within 44-40.

Davis, who had just three points, got more involved, scoring eight points as the Pelicans rebuilt the lead to 55-42.

Thompson scored eight more and finished with 20 second-quarter points as Golden State cut the New Orleans lead to 62-56 at halftime.

--Field Level Media

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