The upcoming matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Golden State Warriors on November 29, 2025 presents a compelling contrast between a Pelicans team fighting through instability and a Warriors squad looking to capitalize on home-court rhythm, creating a game shaped by pace control, shot quality, and discipline on both ends of the floor. New Orleans enters this contest in a difficult position, having struggled mightily through the early season with a combination of injuries, inconsistent rotations, and the aftermath of a midseason coaching change that has left their identity in flux; despite flashes of brilliance from their core players, they remain a team searching for cohesion, reliable interior presence, and defensive structure. Golden State, by contrast, enters with an advantage grounded in continuity, spacing, and a brand of motion offense that can punish teams lacking strong defensive communication or rim protection, and recent meetings between the two sides have shown the Warriors’ ability to exploit New Orleans’ weaknesses early and often through high-volume three-point shooting, quick ball movement, and decisive pace. For the Pelicans, this matchup requires a level of focus and physicality they have struggled to maintain this season: they must commit to winning the rebounding battle, protecting the ball, closing out on shooters with urgency, and maintaining energy through all four quarters to avoid giving the Warriors the kind of scoring bursts that bury opponents quickly at Chase Center. Golden State understands this dynamic well and will likely pressure New Orleans early, using their spacing and speed to test defensive rotations, generate mismatches, and create rhythm threes that energize the crowd and tilt momentum strongly in their favor.

The Pelicans’ best hope lies in attacking the paint decisively, leveraging athleticism to force fouls, and creating transition opportunities before Golden State’s defense can set, but all of that hinges on reducing turnovers and competing with discipline on the glass. Meanwhile, the Warriors know that their own Achilles heel this season—turnovers—cannot be ignored; if they remain careless with the ball, they risk fueling New Orleans’ transition game and allowing the Pelicans’ athletic wings to generate easy points that keep the contest closer than expected. Bench production will play an important role, as Golden State’s second unit has shown the ability to stretch leads with energy and shooting, while New Orleans’ bench has struggled at times to sustain offensive flow or defensive consistency. Ultimately, this matchup hinges on whether New Orleans can impose enough physicality and composure to disrupt Golden State’s preferred rhythm, or whether the Warriors’ structure, shooting, and home-court familiarity allow them to seize control early and force the Pelicans into chasing the game. If Golden State limits turnovers, secures rebounds, and maintains defensive discipline, they have a clear path to another comfortable win; but if the Pelicans bring elevated effort, protect possessions, and exploit their athletic advantages, they can at least force a competitive, high-energy battle that tests the Warriors’ ability to sustain focus across all phases of play.

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