The NBA’s best team this season became the first team to punch their ticket to the second round of the playoffs as the Golden State Warriors completed a sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans.

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MVP favourite Stephen Curry dropped 39 points in Golden State’s 109-98 win in Game 4 on Saturday to eliminate New Orleans.

Anthony Davis did all he could to force a Game 5 by scoring 36 points to go with 11 rebounds.

In his first postseason, the young star posted stunning averages of 31.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 54 per cent shooting.

The Warriors though didn’t let up in the playoffs after suffering just 15 losses in the regular season and handled the eighth-seeded Pelicans with relative ease.

“I’m proud of the way we played, the way we competed,” Curry said. “Four in a row is a good feeling. We’re going to rest up.”

Golden State will take on the winner of the Portland-Memphis series in the conference semi-finals.

The Grizzlies are on the brink of joining the Warriors after claiming a 3-0 lead with a 115-109 victory on the road.

They lost Mike Conley to a facial injury during the contest as the starting point guard was transported to a local medical facility, but Nick Calathes came off the bench with 27 crucial minutes, scoring 13 points while dishing three assists.

Memphis were already without backup point guard Beno Udrih, who sat out with an ankle injury, and Conley will miss Game 4 for further evaluation.