It didn’t take long for Stephen Curry to look like himself again as his return to the court now gives the Golden State Warriors an even wider margin for error.

In his first game back from an MCL sprain that had kept him sidelined since March 23, Curry seemed like he never left – aside from his role as a sixth man off the bench – by dropping an efficient 28 points in the Warriors’ 121-116 Game 2 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

And Golden State needed it too as the Pelicans bounced back with a much better effort than they had in the opener as Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo combined for 71 points.

Curry connected on 8-of-15 shots, including 5-of-10 from long range, to provide the shooting on a night the Warriors were otherwise lacklustre.

The rest of the team shot just 26.6 per cent on 3-pointers, with Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson combining to convert only 4-of-18.

It was obvious Golden State got their identity back with Curry’s return, and the numbers backed it up as the guard had far and away the best plus-minus at plus-26.

“It was an eternity it felt like, for sure,” Curry said of finally getting back on the floor. “When the lights come back on after the starting lineups you’re usually in the go kind of mind frame. I had to kind of pace myself and be patient with it.

“It seemed like it took forever but it was a good feeling to get back out on the floor and just let loose and have fun.”

Considering the Warriors may have all of three games with their full squad before meeting Houston in a clash of titans, Curry’s immediate return to form should make Golden State favourites once again.

“That guy, I don’t know if he knows what rust is,” Draymond Green told ESPN immediately after the game. “Every time he goes out, he comes back like that.

“So it’s kind of what you grow to expect from him.”