Warriors overcome ugly first half to beat Pelicans 120-109

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State has been teetering the playoffs and play-in line and knew how badly it needed to beat the New Orleans Pelicans, who entered Tuesday just a half-game behind the Warriors in the Western Conference standings.

And while the focus wasn’t all there in the first half, the Warriors, propelled by Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole, overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to pick up a much-needed 120-109 win over the Pelicans.

Stephen Curry scored 39 points, Jordan Poole added 21, and Golden State (40-37) regained control of the sixth seed, sitting a half-game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves with five games left in the regular season.

Curry and Poole led the Warriors in their second-half comeback, scoring 22 and 15 points, respectively, over the final two frames.

The Warriors seemed to have carried over their execution problems from the end of their disappointing loss Sunday to Minnesota into Tuesday’s game. They spoiled a strong opening minute with costly fouls and careless turnovers, tallying 14 giveaways in the first two quarters alone.

The Warriors were up by three when Gary Payton II checked in at the 3:47 mark in the first. The Pelicans scored 11 unanswered points over the next two minutes, building their lead to eight.

Payton fouled Ingram as he launched a near half-court shot in the final second of the opening quarter. Ingram would go on to sink all three free throws to put the Pelicans up 36-25 after one. Payton, playing in his second game for the Warriors this season, wouldn’t see the floor again until the third.