Just one night after staging a comeback to overcome a lackluster performance in Portland, the Golden State Warriors couldn’t replicate their success on Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans. This loss may have significant ramifications.

Despite Stephen Curry’s impressive 33-point performance, the Warriors succumbed to the dynamic duo of CJ McCollum, who scored 28 points, and Zion Williamson, who added 26. The 114-109 defeat dealt a blow to the Warriors’ hopes of securing the No. 8 seed and avoiding Wednesday’s 9-10 elimination game.

With the Kings leading Phoenix by seven points heading into the fourth quarter on Friday night, it appeared that the Warriors were likely locked into either the No. 9 or 10 spot. Currently positioned at No. 10, one game behind the Lakers, who won earlier in Memphis, the Warriors could face a play-in game in either Los Angeles or Sacramento on Wednesday.

Despite rallying from a 16-point deficit late in the third quarter and trimming it to three, the Warriors couldn’t sustain their momentum. Curry’s 16 fourth-quarter points weren’t enough to secure victory, as his potential game-tying 3-pointer missed with 13 seconds left, allowing Trey Murphy III to seal the win for New Orleans with two free throws.

Notably, the Pelicans now boast the most road wins in the NBA, including a 141-105 victory over the Warriors in San Francisco earlier in the season, marking Golden State’s most lopsided home loss of the season.

While the Warriors surged to a 26-17 lead after the first quarter, showcasing their strong defense, they faltered in the second quarter. New Orleans capitalized on their three-point shooting, making 10 of 13 attempts beyond the arc and scoring 45 points to establish a 62-48 halftime lead.

The Pelicans’ prowess from long range highlighted the importance of avoiding the 9-10 single-elimination play-in game, where a hot shooting night can drastically alter the outcome. Despite Golden State’s contributions to their own struggles, including nine turnovers in the second quarter, Curry’s first-half performance underscored his remarkable talent, even amidst fatigue from a demanding schedule.