New Orleans @ Golden State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 17, 2019 ) Golden State 100, New Orleans 108

The New Orleans Pelicans just snapped the longest slide in franchise history and have a great chance to make it back-to-back triumphs when they visit the NBA-worst Golden State Warriors on Friday. The Pelicans pulled out of a 13-game skid by battling for a 107-99 victory at Minnesota on Wednesday.

"We just needed a win," New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. "We needed something we could say was positive from start to finish. It's been extremely hard. We've had some extremely close calls, where a play here or a play there, could've given us a win and we weren't able to do it." The Pelicans allowed an average of 120.4 points during the losing streak but held Minnesota to 37.9 percent from the floor while keeping an opponent under the century mark for the first time this season. The closest New Orleans came previously to holding an opponent under 100 came in a 108-100 victory on Nov. 17 over the Warriors, who are last in the Western Conference in scoring at an average of 104.6 points and watched their latest losing streak reach five with a 122-112 loss to Portland on Wednesday. "We did a lot of good things," Golden State coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the loss. "We made some mistakes at crucial times, but we're growing. We're learning, and you can't fault the effort."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS New Orleans, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)

ABOUT THE PELICANS (7-22): New Orleans' losing record is helping to cover the fact that small forward Brandon Ingram is emerging as a star in his first season with the team, and he went for 34 points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block in Wednesday's triumph. "I think we had a sense of urgency for what we had to get done, to set the tone on the first game of this road trip," Ingram told reporters. "Everyone did a really good job of helping the team on the offensive and defensive end." Ingram's big game helped the Pelicans overcome a 5-of-20 shooting effort from guard Jrue Holiday, who is shooting 34.9 percent from the field over the last four contests.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (5-24): The focus of the season for the front office will be to identify the players that can help the franchise get back to its recent championship level along with Stephen Curry (broken hand) and Klay Thompson (knee), and small forward Glenn Robinson III is making a case for himself. The well-traveled 25-year-old is averaging a career-best 11.7 points while getting a chance at being a starter and went 5-of-7 from 3-point range en route to 17 points in Wednesday's loss. Rookie power forward Eric Paschall (hip) is making a name for himself as well and returned from a two-game absence with 11 points in 18 minutes against Portland.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Golden State C Willie Cauley-Stein is 13-of-17 from the floor over the last two games.

2. Pelicans SG Josh Hart is averaging 13.8 points during a string of four straight games scoring in double figures.

3. New Orleans' home win on Nov. 17 snapped a six-game losing streak in the series.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 111, Warriors 106