Warriors Vs Pelicans: A fans-first read on Murray’s return and Golden State’s stand-ins

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 25, 2026 4:18 AM ET

Warriors Vs Pelicans: A fans-first read on Murray’s return and Golden State’s stand-ins

For fans on both sides, the Warriors Vs Pelicans game landed as a reality check: Warriors supporters learned how much the roster misses its absent stars, while Pelicans followers saw Dejounte Murray’s return after more than a year off change the dynamic immediately. Here’s the part that matters — who felt the impact first and which performances will shape the next stretch.

Who felt the immediate impact in Warriors Vs Pelicans — a split answer for two audiences

Warriors fans had to reconcile a 113-109 loss with the fact that several stars were not available, while Pelicans fans got a morale boost from a much-anticipated return. The short version: New Orleans got the win and a welcome roster infusion; Golden State discovered which perimeter pieces can carry load and where the team still cracks without its usual leaders.

Dejounte Murray’s personal timeline and why his comeback matters

Murray returned after more than a year sidelined by injury following a prolonged rehab. His stint in New Orleans began after a June 2024 trade from Atlanta; earlier in his career he was drafted at the end of the first round in 2016 and had an All-Star nod while with San Antonio in 2022, then was traded to Atlanta in June 2022. After arriving in New Orleans he endured a cascade of personal and physical setbacks: his mother suffered a stroke the week before his first game of the 2024-25 season and he flew to see her in Seattle; he broke his left hand in that first game, underwent surgery and missed 17 games; and in January 2025 he ruptured his right Achilles, a season-ending injury. The sequence left him mentally weighed down for months, calling that stretch the worst three months of his professional career when he couldn’t focus on basketball. A medical professional had questioned whether he could bounce back, but after a year-long rehab Murray is now probable to return Tuesday for the Pelicans’ game against the Golden S (unclear in the provided context about the opponent’s full name).

It’s easy to overlook, but the timeline underscores how layered Murray’s comeback is: personal crisis, two surgeries/major injuries, and extensive rehab all collided in what should have been a fresh start in New Orleans.

Game flow, roster context and the final score

The Pelicans won 113-109. The matchup was described as odd: it wasn’t clear whether Warriors should be favored because they faced a very bad Pelicans team on paper, yet New Orleans was fairly healthy and had just welcomed Murray back after more than a year off. Golden State was notably shorthanded for the game, missing Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler III, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Al Horford. The first half was ugly for the Warriors — they struggled to score and at times looked like they would be blown out — but they mounted a strong second-half comeback and even took the lead before losing rhythm late and allowing the Pelicans to seize control in the final moments.

Player grades and the box-score moments that mattered

Moses Moody — 34 minutes, 24 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 5 fouls, 7-for-13 shooting, 4-for-10 threes, 6-for-8 free throws, 72. 6% TS, +13. He stepped up, used his jump shot to attack, took three shots inside the arc and drew eight free throws; given the circumstances he earned an A and the best plus/minus on the team.
Santos / Gui — 39 minutes, 15 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 6 turnovers, 5 fouls, 6-for-13 shooting, 1-for-4 threes, 2-for-2 free throws, 54. 0% TS, -7. The energy was a net positive in many stretches (12 rebounds, hustle plays), but six turnovers and five fouls were glaring problems; the grading called the outing chaotic yet more helpful than harmful overall.
Dray — 32 minutes, 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 5-for-11 shooting, 1-for-3 threes, 50. 0% TS, +8. He played strong defense on Zion Williamson, who scored 26 points but required 21 shots and five free throws to get there; Dray also led the team in assists and picked up a B+ for the night.
De’Anthony Melton — 28 minutes, 28 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls, 8-for-21 shooting, 3-for-10 threes, 9-for-11 free throws, 54. 2% TS, +9. There were stretches when Melton was the only Warrior finding buckets, delivering scoring when others could not.

Quick Q&A for readers tracking the aftermath

Q: Does Murray’s return change the Pelicans overnight? A: It provided an immediate lift and coincided with a win, but longer-term effects are unclear in the provided context. Q: Can the Warriors sustain offense without their stars? A: Several role players produced strong individual nights, but turnovers and foul trouble highlighted limits. Q: Which signal will confirm a trend? A: Consistent returns to form from the role players or clearer availability of absent stars — details on that are unclear in the provided context.

What’s easy to miss is how many different pressures — personal, medical and roster-based — converged for players on both sides in a single game. The real question now is whether Murray’s return and these role-player flashes mark a turning point or a single, emotionally charged snapshot.