Warriors face two ‘tough’ challenges vs. Pelicans at Chase Center

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Warriors face two ‘tough’ challenges vs. Pelicans at Chase Center originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After winning nine of 10 games, the Warriors ought to feel good about the way they’re closing the 2023-24 NBA season. They’ve moved into ninth place in the Western Conference, with a chance to rise to a considerably more desirable eighth.

They come home Friday night to confront their peskiest and most surprising challenger this season: Chase Center.

For more than five months, the shiny building by the bay has been the Warriors’ mystifying, maddening house of tribulation. They have yet to master their castle. And, oh, how they have tried.

They have two more opportunities before the curtain falls on the regular season.

They close the schedule with two home games, the first Friday night against the dangerous New Orleans Pelicans in a game with huge implications. Being at Chase should bring a measure of comfort to the Warriors and every citizen within Dub Nation. That’s how the NBA usually works. Every team in the history of the league prioritizes building a homecourt advantage.

The Warriors are 20-19 at Chase, climbing above .500 last Sunday by beating the Utah Jazz, who had lost their last 13 games. Golden State has lost home games to elite teams, like the defending champion Denver Nuggets (twice) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (twice in a three-day span). The Warriors also lost home games to sub-.500 opponents like the Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs.

Meanwhile, the Warriors borderline elite on the road, finishing their regular-season road schedule Thursday night with a 25-16 record after a 100-92 win over the Trail Blazers in Portland.

“It kept us alive all year,” Stephen Curry, referring to Golden State’s success on the road, told media at Moda Center.

The Warriors have won 17 of their last 21 road games. They leave Chase and become bullies.

“We’ve been great on the road all year,” Kevon Looney said. “But now it’s time to take care of homecourt the last two games. We need to be better there.”

The difference is stark. The Warriors have won at New York, at Oklahoma…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-face-two-tough-challenges-150104899.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-04-12 15:01:04

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