Missing starters Curry and Wiggins, Warriors use their depth to rally past the Pelicans 124-106

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Buddy Hield scored a season-best 28 points, Brandin Podziemski had 19 points and fueled a furious second-half comeback, and the Golden State Warriors rallied from down 20 early to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-106 on Tuesday night.

Zion Williamson had a season-high 31 points on 12-for-20 shooting and eight rebounds for New Orleans. Brandon Ingram scored 30 points.

Jonathan Kuminga, who started the initial three games for Golden State but was averaging 8.0 points on 33.3% shooting, came off the bench to score 17. Reserve Lindy Waters III had 21 points and nine rebounds in his best game yet for Golden State.

The short-handed Warriors needed everything from everybody with starters Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins sidelined.

Curry missed the game with a sprained left ankle he injured in the second half of Sunday's 112-104 loss to the Clippers. He is set to be re-evaluated Friday.

Wiggins and De’Anthony Melton each sat out with lower back strains. Coach Steve Kerr called Wiggins questionable for the second straight matchup against New Orleans on Wednesday night at Chase Center.

Pelicans: New Orleans held a 44-34 rebounding edge after dominating the boards in the initial quarter.

Warriors: The Warriors limited their turnovers to eight after committing 21 on Sunday and forced New Orleans into 24 for 34 points — making 15 steals. Golden State overcame shooting 5 for 23 in the opening quarter — 2 of 13 from 3-point range — to fall behind 31-14.

Podziemski's 3-pointer with 8:22 left in the third tied the game. He scored again the next time down, sparking the Warriors to a 71-67 lead they never relinquished. He also blocked two shots.

Hield returned to the starting lineup and overcame a slow start to make seven 3-pointers after a disappointing home debut Sunday in which he missed 8 of 9 3s and scored eight points.

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

New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green yells to his team against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gestures to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) steals the ball from New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) is congratulated by CJ McCollum (3) after scoring against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) is defend by Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney, back, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans center Daniel Theis (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, right, shoots against New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) celebrates against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

NEW YORK (AP) — One day, Freddie Freeman will look back on this World Series tear and shake his head in disbelief.

Just like everyone else.

Freeman broke a pair of Series records Tuesday when he homered yet again for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 against the New York Yankees.

The slugger laced a two-run shot to right field in the first inning for the second consecutive night, making him the first player to go deep in the first four games of a Fall Classic. The streak began with his walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning of Game 1.

“Pretty cool, obviously,” said Freeman, who was bothered earlier in the postseason by a lingering ankle injury. "Hopefully I can keep it going tomorrow.”

Freeman also became the lone player to homer in six straight World Series games, dating to the 2021 championship he won with Atlanta against Houston.

“I feel good,” he said. “I found a cue during the time I was able to work on my swing with my ankle feeling better. And I’ve been actually seeing the ball really well. They’re making mistakes and I’ve been able to hit ’em.”

Freeman's latest drive wasn't enough on this night, though, as the Yankees averted a four-game sweep with an 11-4 victory. Los Angeles leads 3-1 in the Series and still needs one win for its second championship in five years and the franchise’s eighth overall.

George Springer went deep in five consecutive Series games for the Astros from 2017-19. He is the only hitter besides Freeman to connect in four straight games during one World Series, doing it in Games 4 through 7 in 2017 against the Dodgers before hitting another home run in the 2019 opener versus Washington.

The only other players to homer in the first three games of a World Series were Yankees outfielder Hank Bauer (1958) and Giants slugger Barry Bonds (2002).

Freeman drove in a third run Tuesday night when he hustled hard to beat out a potential inning-ending double play in the fifth, a call at first base that was overturned following a replay challenge.

“You saw me flying down the line tonight,” Freeman said with a smile.

That gave him 10 RBIs in the Series, tied for third-most in a Fall Classic by any player and two more than the previous Dodgers record shared by Hall of Famers Duke Snider (1952) and Gil Hodges (1956).

Bobby Richardson holds the major league mark with 12 for the Yankees in a losing effort against Pittsburgh in 1960.

Following a one-out double by Mookie Betts, Freeman lined a 2-1 slider from rookie starter Luis Gil over the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium for his 14th career postseason homer.

The ball landed in the first few rows of seats, a little to the left of the 314-foot sign in the corner, and a pumped-up Freeman shouted in excitement toward the Dodgers’ dugout as he rounded the bases.

His drive came on the 15th pitch of the game and put Los Angeles ahead 2-0 — same as Monday night, when Freeman homered to right off Clarke Schmidt.

Freeman, the 2020 NL MVP with the Braves, missed three games during the National League playoffs this year because of his ailing ankle. Coming into the World Series, he had one RBI and no extra-base hits this postseason before legging out a triple his first time up in Game 1.

“I’m telling you, we really got out of the woods on that. Obviously, it’s still swollen. But I feel good. I’m in a good spot," Freeman said. "I have no concerns about it right now.”

The popular first baseman is batting .313 (5 for 16) with one walk and a 1.540 OPS in the World Series.

“I’m not even thinking about my ankle," he said. “I’m OK, promise.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman watches his two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman (5) and Mookie Betts celebrate after both scored on Freman's two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run as New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells watches during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman celebrates a two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman celebrates his two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman celebrates his two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run as New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells watches during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman, right, watches his two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman hits a two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman celebrates his two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)