The Golden State Warriors halted a troubling stretch and reclaimed some momentum with a meaningful victory at the Chase Center on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Facing a New Orleans Pelicans roster battered by injuries, the Warriors drew a strong response from two unlikely heroes and left the floor with a 10-10 record while their opponents slipped to 3-16. The outcome mattered for more than the standings; it provided a blueprint for how Golden State can respond when its primary offensive engine is offline.
A night without Stephen Curry forced the roster to adapt. Leadership and execution fell into other hands, and Jimmy Butler answered the call in emphatic fashion. Butler produced an all-around showing that nearly reached triple-double territory, finishing with 24 points, eight rebounds and ten assists. His ability to orchestrate the offense in Curry’s absence provided the steadying presence the team needed. Butler attacked the rim, converted in midrange actions and found open shooters and cutters in the flow of the offense. That versatility kept the Pelicans off balance and allowed Golden State to sustain consistent scoring runs.
Equally important was the energetic contribution from Gary Payton II, who supplied a huge lift off the bench. Payton’s performance combined scoring and disruption; he poured in 19 points while hauling down 11 rebounds and adding three assists. His influence went beyond the raw numbers. On both ends of the floor Payton applied pressure, chased loose balls and set the tone with hustle plays that energized the crowd and his teammates. His rebounding total was especially notable for a reserve guard, giving the Warriors extra possessions and limiting second-chance opportunities for New Orleans.
The matchup carried added intrigue because Kevon Looney returned to the Chase Center in opposing colors. The former fan favorite’s presence added emotional weight to the proceedings, yet Golden State managed to set aside the pageantry and focused on fundamentals. The team overcame an unsteady start, tightening up on defense and finding rhythm offensively through Butler’s playmaking. Defensive rotations improved as the game progressed, and the Warriors took advantage of the Pelicans’ depleted lineup to push tempo and exploit mismatches.
New Orleans entered the night shorthanded, missing key contributors including Herb Jones, and those absences were felt. The Pelicans struggled to match Golden State’s perimeter pressure and appeared thin when asked to defend sustained possessions. Without the depth to rotate fresh defenders or produce reliable secondary scoring, their resistance wore down. The Warriors capitalized, spacing the floor and using Butler’s passing to create open looks. The early sluggishness gave way to disciplined execution, and the result was a lead the home side maintained through the second half.
Butler’s stat line illustrates how he carried the load. His scoring came in bursts that staved off Pelicans runs, while his rebounds and assists underscored his two-way commitment. He did not merely seek to score; he made teammates better, hitting cutters and shooters at crucial moments. That unselfishness was especially valuable given the absence of Curry’s gravity and finishing touch. Butler’s ten assists highlighted his comfort handling the ball under pressure and directing the offense in sets that relied on timing and movement.
Payton’s influence served as the complement to Butler’s orchestration. As a bench presence, he provided the spark many teams need when starters stagnate. Payton attacked the glass with urgency, turned defensive stops into transition opportunities and sank shots when the defense overcommitted. His eleven rebounds were emblematic of a competitive mindset: he did the dirty work that rarely appears in highlight reels but changes the complexion of a game. That effort allowed Golden State to control pace and minimize second-chance points for New Orleans, which was especially critical against a Pelicans team that can grind when afforded extra opportunities.
The Warriors’ defense deserves credit for tightening at pivotal stretches. Early miscues and missed rotations allowed the Pelicans to stay within striking distance, but a collective focus on contesting shots and limiting easy drives swung momentum. The team’s perimeter pressure forced contested looks, and timely switches helped contain interior scoring. Transition defense improved late, cutting off alley-oop chances and quick buckets that could have swung the game. Those stops gave Golden State valuable breathing room and allowed the offense to close out quarter-to-quarter phases with confidence.
This victory also reinforced a recent pattern: the Warriors have enjoyed notable success against the Pelicans in November, having defeated them earlier by a comfortable margin of 124-106. In that previous matchup Butler likewise notched ten assists, suggesting a recurring dynamic in which his playmaking proves decisive when the Warriors need secondary creation. The repeatability of that production raises questions about matchups and personnel; clearly Butler’s skill set matches up well against this iteration of the New Orleans roster.
For the Pelicans the road ahead appears steep. Injuries have forced them into an extended period of limited options, and the lack of consistent depth has compounded their struggles. Whether they can regain health and balance their defensive approach will determine how quickly they recover from this hole. In the immediate term they must find ways to generate secondary scoring and shore up rotations to avoid recurring late-game breakdowns.
Golden State, meanwhile, can draw confidence from this showing. Winning without a primary scoring option is a necessary test for any contender, and the Warriors passed it by leaning into complementary strengths. Butler’s multi-dimensional performance and Payton’s bench charge showed the roster has resilience and versatility. The team will need to sustain that level of focus and continue finding secondary scoring to remain competitive in a demanding Western Conference.
This game will be remembered not only for the result but for what it revealed about the team’s depth and character. With Butler and Payton stepping up, the Warriors found a formula that covers for absences and keeps them competitive. As the season progresses, maintaining that mindset and continuing to extract production from unexpected sources will be crucial if Golden State hopes to build momentum and climb the standings. The win over New Orleans offered a template for how they might do that, one gritty possession at a time.
