Pelicans withstand late Warriors push behind Zion Williamson's 26

Zion Williamson scored 26 points as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the visiting Golden State Warriors 113-109 on Tuesday.

Saddiq Bey scored 18 points as the Pelicans got off to a strong start, then survived a tough late challenge from Golden State.

De'Anthony Melton posted a game-high 28 points for the short-handed Warriors, who were without Stephen Curry (knee), Jimmy Butler (knee), Al Horford (toe) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness).

Moses Moody scored 24 points, and Brandin Podziemski tallied 16 points and 15 rebounds, matching his career-high rebound total set two nights earlier.

A 6-0 Golden State run cut New Orleans' lead to 104-101 late in the fourth, before Bey converted a three-point play.

Melton responded by going 3 of 4 from the line before Dejounte Murray's drive and a pair of Herbert Jones free throws stopped the Warriors' run.

Murray, playing his first game in nearly 13 months after tearing his right Achilles, scored within the first 20 seconds with a cutting reverse layup.

With Williamson active, the Pelicans used a 17-3 burst to open a 25-11 lead, which expanded to 31-19 after the first.

New Orleans' advantage grew to 14 points in a scrappy second quarter, during which both sides struggled to score.

Golden State shot 7 of 23 for the period and had 13 first-half turnovers; Herb Jones' five steals for the Pelicans were a key factor.

But at the other end, New Orleans went 5 of 22 in the second, including 2 of 12 from 3-point range, at one stage going 5:27 without a field goal.

The Warriors led the quarter 20-15, cutting their deficit to 46-39 at halftime.

Their zone defense continued to wreak havoc in the third period, as the Pelicans misfired from the perimeter and coughed up costly turnovers.

Moody knotted the score at 57 before burying two free throws -- after Jones' fourth foul -- to give Golden State its first lead of the night with 6:22 on the clock.

Moody spearheaded an 11-2 Warriors run before Derik Queen finished the quarter strongly at both ends to put New Orleans back up 77-72 after three.

Quinten Post's hook shot briefly gave Golden State the lead back before Williamson reclaimed it for good for the Pelicans on a strong drive and then added to it with another, converting it into a three-point play after having an offensive foul overturned.

--Field Level Media