The Warriors and Kings played some exciting preseason basketball on Sunday night at the Golden 1 Center despite the absence of Steph Curry and Chris Paul and the meaninglessness of the contest in the standings.
The Warriors are now 3-0 in the preseason after coming back from a 15-point hole in the third quarter to force overtime and defeat the Kings 121-115.
“Guys are doing a great job closing games to win two straight close ones with clutch play down the stretch,” stated Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. “It’s great to watch!”
Jonathan Kuminga scored a game-high 28 points to continue his spectacular preseason, while Lester Quinones, the 22-year-old Summer League star who signed a two-way contract in July, scored 18 points and beat the Kings with a go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime.
It is during times like these that our mettle is truly tested, as Quinones put it. “This is when (Kerr) commits fully and realizes, ‘I can trust them in this scenario.’ Or sometimes he has an eye toward the future and wonders whether or not I can trust them in the clutch. We’re going to go out there and fight to prove ourselves and win Kerr’s faith.
Moses Moody noted afterward that the excitement of the contest at the Golden 1 Center was similar to that of a regular season game.
After all, the Kings hadn’t played at Oracle Arena since the Warriors finished their season in April, so this was something of a homecoming game for them.
Here is where the Warriors won Game 5 of the series, only to choke away Game 6 at home before returning to Sacramento for Game 7, when Curry scored 50 points to seal the deal.
The Kings, without a shadow of a doubt, still have something to prove. They brought back nearly their entire starting lineup, including NBA Coach of the Year and former Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown.
Both 27-year-old Domantas Sabonis and 25-year-old De’Aaron Fox shone well on the court on Sunday.
Fox, fresh off an All-Star season in which he was also awarded NBA Clutch Player of the Year, seemed like the game’s fastest player as he poured in 17 points, five rebounds, and six assists in just 26 minutes of action.
In addition to his 19 points, Sabonis also grabbed 11 boards. He also shot 100% from beyond the arc. After he told ESPN on the in-game broadcast that he had been practicing his long-range shot, the Warriors provided him plenty of open looks from beyond the arc. If the door is open, he will walk through it.
When both Fox and Sabonis were in the lineup, the Kings were unstoppable. After one period, the Kings led by a score of 38-25, but the game was lopsided without Curry and Paul.
The Warriors presented a new look without them, starting Brandon Podziemski at point guard. The freshman from Santa Clara University, selected 19th overall in June, showed signs of the talent that led to his high ranking. And a few blunders made by inexperienced individuals.
He shot just 1/5 from the field and 0/1 from beyond the arc for four points in 32 minutes of action. In addition to his four assists and six boards, he also helped out.
Podziemski “handled things great,” Kerr added, despite Paul and Curry’s absence. Brandin is just really confident. He plays the game with incredible instincts. He’s got some serious muscle. He’s got a lot of tricks in his sleeve. Watching him play as a young rookie in this league is a delight. He’s far along in the game.
Kuminga has been crucial to the Warriors’ offense so far this preseason, but on Sunday he was at his most effective from the free throw line.
Kuminga, not hesitant to make hard drives to the hoop, shot 17 free throws and made 13.
Kerr said, “One of the major things that we’ve talked to JK about is, we’re not the most athletic team, but we are a highly skillful team, and we don’t get to the line a ton. Last year, they finished near the bottom of the league. We’ll be stronger as a unit if he can attack the basket and draw fouls.