SAN FRANCISCO – With one deft change to the beginning lineup, Warriors coach Steve Kerr demonstrated the largest distinction between this season’s roster and this 12 months’s iteration.
Out went the returning 6-foot-4, 205-pound Brandin Podziemski, and in went the 6-9, 260lb newcomer Al Horford.
The brand new lineup noticed Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler moved to protect and wing respectively, and Draymond Inexperienced shifted to his extra pure energy ahead place and away from guarding 7-0 big Donovan Clingan.
There was lots to investigate in Golden State’s 129-123 victory over the Blazers at Chase Heart on Wednesday evening.
Butler scored 12, whereas Curry put in 10 and Buddy Hield scored 13. Moses Moody scored 10.
Quinten Submit put up 20 factors and LJ Cryer had 14 whereas main an exciting fourth quarter comeback alongside Pat Spencer. The Warriors outscored the Blazers 51-26 within the fourth, placing up probably the most factors in 1 / 4 in preseason franchise historical past.
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) dribbles in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers within the first quarter of an NBA preseason sport at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
On the primary possession, Inexperienced confirmed his chemistry along with his new frontcourt accomplice, lasering a cross to Horford for a layup, albeit one not transformed.
Nevertheless, over the primary 6:47, the lineup produced blended outcomes, because it fell behind 18-12 and compelled Kerr to name a timeout.
The inside protection was sensational in permitting simply 4 factors within the paint. However with a slower frontcourt, the Blazers peppered Golden State from behind the arc, beginning 4 of 6 on wide-open appears.
Inexperienced was surprisingly efficient as a shooter, nailing a few open triples, and although Horford started 0 of three, he did make a nifty cross to Butler whereas main the fastbreak.
That was all of the spectators at Chase Heart obtained to see of the beginning unit, with that mixture not taking part in collectively once more within the first half. To begin the second, Curry, Butler, Inexperienced and Horford weren’t on the bench.
The Warriors had been down 73-57 at halftime, and Kerr didn’t mince phrases.
“We weren’t ready, we were not,” Kerr stated. “We were careless with the ball, and they were flying by us every play.”
Identical quantity of minutes for starters
After taking part in round quarter-hour every in Sunday’s preseason opener, the Golden State vets – Horford, Curry, Butler and Inexperienced – had been anticipated to play extra minutes.
“We usually ramp them up a little bit each game,” Kerr stated after a latest observe. “I imagine it will be a little bit more than the other night.”
In actuality, the ramp-up was minimal. Butler performed 17 minutes whereas Inexperienced and Curry every performed 16 apiece. Horford truly noticed a lower in taking part in time, seeing the ground for simply 11 minutes whereas going 0 of 4.
Moody and Submit had been the one Warriors gamers to crack 20 minutes.
Podziemski … level guard?
Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski (2) drives previous Portland Path Blazers’ Blake Wesley (1) within the second quarter of an NBA preseason sport at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Kerr put beginning taking pictures guard Podziemski within the position of flooring basic within the first quarter.
The outcomes had been … not fairly. Portland ended the primary quarter on a 13-0 run, with Golden State struggling to generate open appears with just one pure ballhandler on the ground.
Butler returned to start out the second quarter and took over de facto level guard duties. It additionally noticed Jonathan Kuminga spend time with Horford and Butler, which produced 5 fast factors to start the second quarter.
Podziemski completed the sport with 5 factors and three assists, and appeared way more efficient when taking part in off both Butler or Curry. Kuminga, who had two assists, as soon as once more performed the a part of a keen passer in opposition to the Blazers. He repeatedly made the additional cross, together with a few dishes to Curry that didn’t present up within the stat sheet.
The Warriors will play their first highway sport of the season on the Lakers on Sunday.
Different notables
Oakland native Damian Lillard didn’t make the journey again to the Bay Space. He tore his Achilles within the first spherical of the playoffs for Milwaukee and continues to be rehabbing in Portland.
After utilizing 18 gamers within the opener, Kerr barely minimize the rotation down on Wednesday. He performed 17, with Marques Bolden not getting into.
Seth Curry was wholesome however didn’t play. As a result of he entered coaching camp a number of days later than the remainder of the crew, Kerr stated he’s “ramping up” his exercise.
Summer season League sensation Hansen Yang was unable to recreate the magical passing and inside scoring he flashed in opposition to the Warriors in Las Vegas. He fouled out, and solely had 4 factors and one help whereas wanting a tad bit frazzled in opposition to actual NBA competitors.
Golden State Valkyries heart Iliana Rupert’s youthful brother, Rayan, suited up for Portland.
Portland Path Blazers’ Yang Hansen (16) appears to cross in opposition to the Golden State Warriors’ Quinten Submit (21) within the second quarter of an NBA preseason sport at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (1) lays up a shot in opposition to Portland Path Blazers’ Donovan Clingan (23) within the second quarter of an NBA preseason sport at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) lays up a shot in opposition to Portland Path Blazers’ Jrue Vacation (5) within the second quarter of an NBA preseason sport at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (1), Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Inexperienced (23) and Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) look on within the second quarter of an NBA preseason sport in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Al Horford (20) dribbles as he appears to cross in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers within the first quarter of an NBA preseason sport at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Moses Moody (4) drives previous Portland Path Blazers’ Blake Wesley (1) within the second quarter of an NBA preseason sport at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (1) drives previous Portland Path Blazers’ Deni Avdija (8) as Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski (2) and Golden State Warriors’ Al Horford (20) transfer over within the second quarter of an NBA preseason sport at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Portland Path Blazers’ Jrue Vacation (5) positive factors a rebound in opposition to the Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II (0) within the second quarter of an NBA preseason sport at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) lays up a 3 level basket and attracts a foul in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers within the first quarter of an NBA preseason sport at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Initially Printed: October 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM PDT
