Steve Kerr sees a path for the Golden State Warriors to become a real contender this season. After Monday’s 138-87 rout of the New Orleans Pelicans, the coach said his team has a chance to rank in the top 10 on both offense and defense.

“We have a chance to be, I think, a top 10 offense and defense,” said Kerr. “And that’s what it takes to be a great team in this league and a real contender. And that’s our goal. Our defense has been improving dramatically the last couple weeks. Offensively, we’re obviously shooting the ball really well. It’s gonna get a lot harder now on the road, so it’s a really good homestand and we got a long way to go. We just have to try to carry the momentum forward.”

The victory extended Golden State’s winning streak to eight games, its longest since the 2021-22 season when they went on to win the NBA championship.

Stephen Curry scored 25 points in just 21 minutes. He is averaging 30.6 points, second in the NBA, after a knee issue sidelined him for much of last season’s second half.

Brandin Podziemski added 25 points, and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg posted 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Kerr also credited Georges Niang with improving the team’s chemistry.

Jimmy Butler, who remains sidelined, said in late October that winning would silence questions about the team’s age and health. The Warriors have not lost since.

Golden State now opens a five-game road trip against the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.