3 takeaways as Warriors remain undefeated in preseason with win over Kings – The Mercury News

SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors continued to aim from behind the 3-point arc, but also turned up the lever when attacking the basket.

Once again, more than half of the Warriors' field goal attempts came from behind the arc, but they also ended up at the line for 37 foul shots.

Even Lindy Waters III, a 3-point specialist, scored a closeout to make it 1-1 in the final minutes of the game.

With just under two minutes left in a tied game, Pat Spencer hit Gui Santos with a long advance pass to tie the score at 1-1, giving Golden State a 105-102 lead. A minute later, after briefly giving up the lead, Spencer scored the go-ahead goal.

The five of Spencer, Waters, Santos, Reece Beekman and Quinten Post saved the day.

“I thought the story of the game was really the last group, the last five, six minutes, this young group came in and it was the first time all night that we looked connected and fast,” Steve Kerr said after the game . “Honestly, I think we were tired tonight. I think our guys need a day off, which they get tomorrow…Sacramento, I thought, completely outplayed all of us in the game.”

In the Warriors' first preseason game at Chase Center, Golden State remained undefeated. The 109-106 win over the Kings gives them wins in Honolulu, Sacramento and now San Francisco.

Moses Moody led the game with 23 points in 25 minutes and earned the starting nod with his strong performance in training camp. Jonathan Kuminga added 19 points and the Warriors bench ended the game.

Steph Curry scored six points and added four assists in 16 minutes but did not come out of the weight room in the second half, instead working out individually after jamming a finger.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors' third win of the preseason.

Another new starting lineup

The Warriors celebrated their third preseason game with their third clear starting lineup. Only this time, they went with a group — Steph Curry, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, Kyle Anderson and Draymond Green — that likely won't start any games in the regular season.

Curry and Payton have always played well together, Moody had a strong preseason and the Warriors want Anderson and Green to work together. And since Andrew Wiggins remains inactive (due to illness), tinkering with realistic starting combinations may only be possible to a limited extent.

The irony is that Friday's group – the group with no real distance around Curry – put in a great performance. Anderson shot two three-pointers, including a hard one in the corner in transition, and Green added another. The unit was solid defensively and hit their shots, appearing much more cohesive than on paper.

Anderson and Green won't be knockdown shooters. The defense won't even get out of their way most of the time. But Anderson shot 40% from three two years ago and Green shot a career-best 39.5% last season. If the Warriors want to shoot as much as they do, any opportunity to help out will help.

Quick night for Curry

Steph Curry played 16 minutes, which he was probably scheduled to do, but didn't come out to sit on the bench in the second half. Other starters, including Green, opened the third quarter.

Instead, Curry worked out in the weight room because of a minor finger injury. Kerr had planned to bring Curry into the second half for the first time this preseason, but the Warriors didn't want to overdo it after Curry tweaked his right index finger (X-rays were negative, according to the team).

Four minutes into the second quarter, Curry jammed his finger while attempting a shot. Curry tried to shake and flex his hand after the game and stayed in the game for most of the remainder of the game. Curry eventually left the court and headed into the tunnel, followed by head coach Rick Celebrini.

The quickest way to dampen the good preseason mood is any kind of Curry injury – no matter how minor.

“You always get nervous when he gets hurt,” Kerr said.

Podz, the starting signal for the break

For the second straight game, Brandin Podziemski threw an over-the-head dime to a teammate who had run out for a fast break. This time, with a minute left in the first half, Moody was on the receiving end.

The Warriors want to get up and down. It's difficult to get players to sprint their lanes in transition if they never get the ball. That's why forward passes are important, and Podziemski is great at them. The guard led the Warriors in rebounding last season, so he will have a chance to create opportunities in transition.

The ability and willingness to make aggressive passes on the field is a valuable skill, and Podziemski has a knack for it.

Originally published: October 11, 2024 at 9:42 p.m