The Golden State Warriors faced an uphill battle from the start of game one of back-to-back matchups versus the Pelicans this week, with a loaded injury report. As documented throughout the week, the injury status of Stephen Curry has him sidelined for at least two games this week before being reevaluated. Shooting guard De’Anthony Melton was out with Golden State taking preventive measures for his right facet inflammation, along with Andrew Wiggins being out with a lower back strain.

Head coach Steve Kerr also made the adjustment pregame to alter the starting lineup, substituting Jonathan Kuminga for a reserve role. Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, and Brandin Podziemski made their first appearances in the starting lineup this season.

“Without Steph and Wiggins, I didn’t want to start TJD, Draymond and JK,” Kerr said. “I told him before the game. You’re going to play a lot, this is just about combinations and getting a little more spacing on the floor to start.

The Pelicans came out of the gates hot, forward Brandon Ingram was cooking early, scoring the first 10 New Orleans points. Golden State’s role players were slow to start and fell behind quickly, the Pelicans would close out the opening frame on a 13-0 run. Going down by as many as 20 points in the early minutes of the second quarter, trailing 34-14.

As the Warriors showed during their first two games of the season, the roster is as deep as it has been in some time.

“This is the deepest team I’ve ever coached,” Kerr said.

“I think we got the deepest team in the league,” Wiggins said following their opening night win.

The Warriors' new influx of starters and reserves met the moment tonight and backed up those claims by flipping this game on its head midway through the second quarter.

Lindy Waters III, one of the odd men out in terms of cracking the Warriors' unconventional 12-man rotation made the most of his minutes tonight, earning him more as the game progressed into crucial minutes of the second half. Waters was instrumental in both the Warriors' triumphant comeback and getting the lead to double digits. Finishing with 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a game-high +26 plus-minus.

“I gotta strap on me. I just wake up and I can shoot it no matter if I’m playing or not,” Waters III said.

Waters III wasn’t the only one off the bench who had things going, as Kuminga had his best game of the young season. In 28 minutes, Kuminga posted 17 points, three rebounds, and three assists, along with two steals and a block.

A Waters III three in the midst of a 12-3 Dubs run gave the Warriors their first lead since the opening minutes of the game.

The Warriors' newly acquired sharpshooter Hield, who’s already made a name for himself during his brief Golden State career would be the one who stole the show in the fourth quarter to increase the Warriors' fourth-quarter advantage.

Hield’s 19 fourth-quarter points on 6-8 shooting from the field, going a perfect 4-4 from three-point land lit up Chase Center, something reminiscent of his predecessor Klay Thompson had the knack of doing. He would finish with 28 points, with seven threes made.

“We gotta figure it out. It’s coming together for the greater good. No matter who’s scoring the most points. Just getting stops and winning,” Hield said.

Golden State scored 30 points off 22 Pelicans turnovers. The forward tandem of Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson combined for 61 points and 12 rebounds, but the New Orleans supporting cast was not enough, falling 124-106.

The Dubs will be back on the Chase Center floor Wednesday night looking to replicate their success against this same Pelicans squad.

(Photo credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images)