Moses Moody scores 32 as Warriors cruise past Pelicans 124-106

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Moses Moody hit a career-high eight 3-pointers and scored a career-high 32 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat New Orleans 124-106 on Sunday night in what was also James Borrego's debut as Pelicans interim coach.

Jimmy Butler added 18 points and 10 assists for the Warriors, who led by as many as 25 points in the second half and whose arrival in New Orleans a day earlier coincided with Pelicans' firing of fifth-year coach Willie Green.

Brandin Podziemski scored 19 points, Al Horford added 11 points and Draymond Green grabbed 10 rebounds during a performance in which he also had a brief confrontation with a fan along the baseline.

Trey Murphy III scored 20 for New Orleans, while Jose Alvarado added 18 points and Jeremiah Fears 17.

Golden State shot 42.9% (24 of 56) from 3-point range, while the Pelicans went just 8 of 29 (27.6%) from deep. And the Warriors won comfortable despite Stephen Curry — who'd scored 46 and 49 points in his previous two games — going an uncharacteristic 2-of-11 shooting for nine points.

The Warriors opened up a 17-point lead in the first quarter, when Moody hit seven 3s — setting his career high from deep for an entire game.

The Pelicans were able to trim their deficit back to single digits in the second quarter, however, pulling to 53-49 on Herb Jones' free throws, capping a 10-0 run that also included Murphy's dunk and two layups by Fears.

Moments before Jones' free throws, Green got into a near chest-to-chest verbal exchange with a fan on the baseline near the Golden State goal. Officials pulled Green away without calling a foul, while ushers converged on the fan and spoke to him briefly without ejecting him.

Meanwhile, the Warriors closed the half with eight straight points, capped by Butler's steal and breakaway dunk to put the Golden State up 61-49 at halftime.

Warriors: Visit the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.

Pelicans: Host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen (22) and guard Jeremiah Fears (0) strip the ball from Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) as he goes to the basket during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green reacts after a basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

New Orleans Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego reacts as players walk off the court in a timeout during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody shoots a three-pointer against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket around New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles around New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Sepp Straka made three birdies and two eagles on the par 5s for an 8-under 64 and seized on some late misses by Scottie Scheffler to take a one-shot lead Saturday going into the final round of the Hero World Challenge.

Straka chipped in for eagle on the par-5 sixth and played great golf just to keep pace with Scheffler, who had five straight 3s on his scorecard to start the third round and was 9 under for his round through 15 holes.

Scheffler, going for a third straight win at Albany Golf Club, has stumbled over the final three holes every day this week — a double bogey on the 16th on Thursday, a bogey on the 16th on Friday, and then a bogey-par-bogey finish.

He still had a 65 and will be in the final group with Straka on Sunday.

Straka seized on the par 5s. Along with his chip-in on the sixth hole, he holed an 18-foot eagle putt on the downwind, par-5 15th. He also hit a 3-wood that landed perfectly in front of the green at the par-5 ninth that rolled out to 15 feet for a two-putt birdie.

He trailed Scheffler by three shots through five holes, and by two shots with four holes left. But Straka was bogey-free on the day and finished at 18-under 198.

“He definitely got it going quick,” Straka said of the world's No. 1 player. “It didn’t look like he was going to miss a putt there for a little bit. But it’s golf, it usually evens out a lot and I just tried to focus on my own game.”

The only par 4 that Straka birdied was No. 7, where the tee was moved back. That kept players from trying to drive the green and instead tested them with a wedge to a dangerous back-left pin. Straka took it on and hit it to 7 feet.

Scheffler, who went left of the 16th fairway the opening two rounds — one of those leading to a penalty drop from a bush — this time found the short grass and it wasn't much better. He had an awkward stance, tugged it left into a bunker and the ball buried in the sand, leading to bogey.

He also dropped a shot on the 18th by missing the green to the right — water is left — leaving a tricky pitch up the slope.

“A few unfortunate breaks, but overall did some really good stuff,” Scheffler said.

Alex Noren (67) and Hideki Matsuyama (68) were three shots behind Straka, while J.J. Spaun and Wyndham Clark each shot 69 and were four behind.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, studies his putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at Albany Golf Club in New Providence, Bahamas, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, reacts to making a birdie on the fourth hole during the third round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club, in New Providence, Bahamas, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, reacts after the third round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club, in New Providence, Bahamas, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Sepp Straka, of Austria, reacts after his putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at Albany Golf Club in New Providence, Bahamas, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Sepp Straka, of Austria, watches his hit from the sand on the 6th hole during the third round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club, in New Providence, Bahamas, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)