The Golden State Warriors will travel to New Orleans this Sunday to face a Pelicans squad that has stumbled out of the gate. Golden State is looking to build momentum and New Orleans is trying to figure things out after firing its head coach. Here, I break down this Western Conference matchup and make my Warriors vs Pelicans prediction for tonight.
Our Warriors vs Pelicans Pick
- Pick: Golden State Warriors –10
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Golden State Warriors @ New Orleans Pelicans
- Date & Time: Sunday, November 16, 2025, 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
The Pelicans are off to a brutal 2–10 start this season and the franchise responded by firing head coach Willie Green. That shake-up could put New Orleans in even more turmoil right before this game. To make matters worse, New Orleans is dealing with significant injuries. Zion Williamson (hamstring) is questionable, while Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray are out.
Golden State is in a relatively good place. The Warriors sit at 8–6, with Stephen Curry leading the way, averaging 29.1 points per game. Their offense is middling around Curry, but they’ve held up well on defense, allowing 114.6 points per game. The Warriors took a pair of games in San Antonio over the last few days and Golden State will try to get a third straight win here against the struggling Pelicans.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- This is the first of three games that the Warriors and Pelicans will play against each other this season.
- Golden State is 3-6 on the road this year.
- New Orleans is 1-4 on their home floor.
- The Warriors are 8-6 against the spread entering Sunday’s game.
- New Orleans enters this matchup at 5-6-1 against the spread.
- The Warriors have gone over the total in 9 of their first 14 games.
- The Pelicans are 6-6 in the over/under market this season.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Stephen Curry (GSW) | Over 27.5 Points |
| Trey Murphy III (NOP) | Over 19.5 Points |
| Jimmy Butler III (GSW) | Over 5.5 Assists |
Warriors vs Pelicans Model Projection
Score Projection: Warriors 122 – Pelicans 110
Win Probability: Warriors 85%, Pelicans 15%
Final Thoughts
I think there is just too much adversity for the Pelicans to overcome in this contest. They are tasked with figuring things out under an interim head coach and with several of their top players missing due to injury. Even if Williamson is able to play in this game, he won’t be enough to keep the Pels close in this one. I will lay the points with the Warriors in what should be their third win in a row.
