The New Orleans Pelicans couldn’t hold on after a dominating first quarter as they fell 97-87 to the Golden State Warriors on Monday night in Oracle Arena.

The Pelicans had it working on both sides of the floor as they secured a 28-17 lead after one quarter before the Warriors found their rhythm and got back into the game. Golden State was able to get it rolling in the second with 38 points to take a three-point advantage into halftime.

The starting backcourt of Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry led the way as Golden State took a two games to none series lead over New Orleans. Thompson finished with 26 points on 11-for-17 shooting from the floor with three rebounds and three assists while Curry managed 22 points to go along with six assists and four rebounds.

The “Splash Brothers” had plenty of help from their running mates, especially on the defensive end where the Warriors limited the Pelicans to just 37.8 percent shooting from the floor (31-of-82), including just 35 percent from 3-point land (7-of-20). Golden State also did an excellent job on the glass outrebounding New Orleans 49-42.

Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut were key on both fronts. Green totaled 14 points on an off shooting night, but did have 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals while Bogut added five points, a game-high 14 rebounds and three blocks.

Leandro Barbosa provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the floor in just 15 minutes of action.

Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon paced the Pelicans in the road defeat. Davis had 26 points on 9-for-22 shooting from the floor with 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks while Gordon put up 23 points on the strength of a 5-for-10 shooting performance from beyond the arc.

Tyreke Evans added 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists while Norris Cole chipped in with 11 points and three rebounds off the bench.

Omer Asik also made an impact with 13 rebounds (six offensive) in just 24 minutes of play.

As I predicted, Jimmer Fredette did not play even though the Pelicans struggled to put points on the board. It is now five straight games that Jimmer hasn’t played going back to the end of the regular season.

Coach Monty Williams is so locked into his rotation right now that there is little chance of Fredette seeing any kind of meaningful minutes the rest of the way as New Orleans tries to hang with the best backcourt in the league today.

Game three between the Pelicans and the Warriors is on Thursday night at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.