Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray Lead Pelicans to Victory Over Warriors

Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray orchestrated a masterful performance at the Smoothie King Center on Tuesday night, leading the New Orleans Pelicans to a morale-boosting 113-109 victory over the Golden State Warriors. In a season largely defined by adversity and injuries for the Pelicans (17-42), this win served as a rare glimmer of the potential this roster holds when its stars align. Williamson, the irrepressible force in the paint, poured in 26 points, while Murray, making his emotional return after a nearly 13-month absence due to an Achilles rupture, provided the clutch stability New Orleans has desperately lacked.

Zion Williamson: Dominating the Paint and Beyond

For Zion Williamson, this game was a reaffirmation of his status as one of the league’s most efficient scorers. Facing a depleted Warriors frontcourt that was missing Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Al Horford (toe), Williamson feasted in the interior. He finished the night shooting 11-of-21 from the field, bullying his way through double teams and finishing through contact with his trademark explosiveness.

What stood out most, however, was a moment that brought the New Orleans crowd to its feet early in the contest: Williamson stepped back and drained his first three-pointer of the season. Having attempted only three previously, this make wasn’t just three points on the board; it was a signal of confidence. Throughout the game, Williamson’s gravity opened up lanes for his teammates, a critical factor in the Pelicans’ offensive flow. His ability to navigate the Warriors’ zone defense, often collapsing three defenders before kicking out to shooters like Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey, was the engine behind the Pelicans’ 113-point outing.

“It felt good to be out there with DJ [Dejounte Murray] again,” Williamson said in the post-game presser. “The spacing is different. The energy is different. We just played Pelicans basketball.”

The Return of the Floor General: Dejounte Murray’s Impact

While Williamson provided the power, Dejounte Murray provided the poise. Returning from a ruptured right Achilles tendon suffered against Boston back in January 2025, Murray’s presence was immediately felt. Though his stat line—13 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds in 25 minutes—might seem modest by his All-Star standards, his impact went far beyond the box score.

Murray’s return allowed the Pelicans to organize their offense in crunch time, an area where they have struggled historically. With the game hanging in the balance and the Warriors cutting the lead to one possession, it was Murray who took control. With 1:04 remaining on the clock, he drove down the left lane, absorbing contact and finishing a clutch layup to extend the lead to 109-104. He later sealed the game with two calm free throws with 9 seconds left.

The synergy between Murray and Williamson is what Pelicans fans envisioned when the trade was made back in 2024. Murray’s ability to navigate the pick-and-roll forced the Warriors to make difficult decisions, often leaving Williamson with a mismatch or an open lane. Despite committing five turnovers—expected rust after such a long layoff—Murray’s leadership was the stabilizing force New Orleans needed to close out a tight game.

Golden State’s Struggles: The Curry and Porzingis Void

The Golden State Warriors entered this contest severely shorthanded, a recurring theme in their 2025-2026 campaign. Without Stephen Curry (right knee), Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford, the Warriors’ offense lacked its usual fluidity. The team is currently navigating a complex transition period. As detailed in our Golden State Warriors 2026 Report: The Butler Era Dynasty Reimagined, the integration of new stars and the aging of the old guard has created a volatile mix of high peaks and low valleys.

Despite the absences, the Warriors fought valiantly. Moses Moody stepped up with a team-high 24 points, showcasing the development that has made him a key piece of Golden State’s future. Brandin Podzienski added 16 points, and Gui Santos contributed 15 off the bench. However, the lack of a primary closer was evident in the final minutes. The Warriors shot just 24.4% from three-point range (11-of-45), a stark contrast to the efficiency usually associated with the franchise. The absence of Curry’s gravity meant the Pelicans could pack the paint against drivers, forcing Golden State’s role players to beat them from deep—a challenge they couldn’t meet on this night.

Game Stats Breakdown: Pelicans vs. Warriors

The statistical comparison highlights where the game was won and lost. While the Warriors controlled the glass, their shooting efficiency plummeted without their stars.

Tactical Analysis: Willie Green’s Rotations

Pelicans head coach Willie Green made several intriguing adjustments to counter the Warriors’ motion offense. Perhaps the most surprising was the continued usage of veteran DeAndre Jordan in the starting lineup. Jordan, who pulled down 15 rebounds in the previous game, was used to anchor the defense against the Warriors’ cutters. While his mobility is limited, his size deterred Golden State from attacking the rim as freely as they might have liked in the first half.

Offensively, Green utilized a “heavy” pick-and-roll scheme involving Murray and Williamson, but also incorporated Jordan Poole as a weak-side spot-up threat. Poole, a former Warrior, scored 12 points and played with a noticeable chip on his shoulder. Green’s decision to trust Saddiq Bey in the closing lineup paid dividends. Bey scored 18 points, including a spectacular reverse layup spun off the glass while being fouled to give the Pelicans a 107-101 lead with 1:47 left. This small-ball closing lineup, surrounding Williamson with shooters and a secondary playmaker in Murray, proved too potent for the Warriors’ depleted defense to handle.

Fourth Quarter Clutch Execution

The fourth quarter was a microcosm of the Pelicans’ potential. In the past, this team has been notorious for blowing late leads. On this night, they executed with precision. Zion Williamson scored 10 of his 26 points in the final frame, demanding the ball in the post and forcing the Warriors to foul or concede easy buckets.

The defining sequence occurred in the final two minutes. After Moses Moody hit a jumper to cut the Pelicans’ lead to two, New Orleans responded not with isolation play, but with ball movement. Murray probed the defense, kicked it out to Bey, who drove and finished. On the next possession, Murray called his own number, driving left to hit the dagger layup. This level of composure is exactly what the Pelicans hoped to acquire when they traded for Murray, and seeing it manifest in his first game back is a promising sign for the remainder of the season.

Western Conference Implications

While the Pelicans are likely out of the playoff race given their 17-42 record, this win plays a spoiler role in the Western Conference standings. The Warriors (30-28) are fighting to stay out of the Play-In tournament, and losses to lower-seeded teams could prove catastrophic for their seeding. The West remains a bloodbath, with teams like the Mavericks and Bucks making roster moves that shake up the landscape daily. For a deeper dive into recent league-wide shifts, check out our analysis on the Mavericks vs Bucks Postponed Showdown and Roster Reset.

For New Orleans, the remainder of the season is about building chemistry. With Williamson and Murray finally sharing the floor, the front office can properly evaluate the roster’s ceiling. If this duo can stay healthy, they possess the talent to compete with the conference’s elite next year.

Bay Area Sports Landscape

For Golden State fans, the loss adds to a complex year for Bay Area sports. While the Warriors attempt to navigate the twilight of the Curry era and the dawn of the Butler experiment, the region is also preparing for massive events like Super Bowl LX. The intersection of sports culture in the Bay Area is at an all-time high, with Levi’s Stadium set to host the Patriots and Seahawks. You can read more about that matchup in our Super Bowl 2026 LX Guide. The pressure on the Warriors to maintain their status as the region’s premier winner is immense, especially as other local franchises dominate the headlines.

Future Outlook for New Orleans

The Pelicans have long been a franchise of “what ifs.” What if Zion stays healthy? What if the trades pan out? Tuesday night offered a concrete answer to those questions. When healthy, Zion Williamson is an unstoppable force. When active, Dejounte Murray is a winning point guard. The supporting cast of Bey, Poole, and the emerging Trey Murphy III (though out for this game) provides enough firepower to overwhelm defenses.

The challenge now is consistency. The Pelicans head to Salt Lake City next to face the Utah Jazz. Can they replicate this performance on the road? For the Warriors, the focus shifts to getting healthy. With Curry’s knee issue lingering and the playoffs approaching, Steve Kerr has difficult decisions to make regarding load management versus seeding. For now, however, the night belongs to New Orleans, and the long-awaited debut of their star duo.

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