SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors had been speculated to make their preseason finale a costume rehearsal sport, however their plans obtained nixed when Steph Curry sprained his proper index finger, sidelining him out of precaution.
It wouldn’t have been a lot of a real take a look at, anyway. The Lakers, on the second night time of a weird preseason back-to-back, sat nearly each notable participant. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves every didn’t play, making the sport extra like varsity-versus-JV than even an exhibition.
Towards the Lakers’ skeleton crew, Golden State skated to a 132-74 victory to cap an ideal 6-0 preseason. They’re the one staff within the NBA to go undefeated within the preseason.
To beat Los Angeles, the Warriors shot 58.3% and posted a 21:5 assist-to-turnover ratio within the first half earlier than utterly working the Lakers out of Chase Heart. Jonathan Kuminga scored a team-high 17 factors and 6 Warriors registered double digits. Bronny James, in a beginning function for the Lakers, scored 17 factors on 7-for-17 capturing.
The Warriors blitzed Los Angeles from the beginning. They began the identical jumbo-sized lineup as they did in Las Vegas in opposition to the Lakers, solely with De’Anthony Melton in Curry’s spot. That group hit seven of its first 9 pictures, with nearly every thing coming within the paint.
Other than a pair defensive hiccups from Jonathan Kuminga, the unit dominated like they need to. Then the bench got here in after seven minutes and scored 13 unanswered factors, pushing the tempo and draining a pair of 3s.
Brandin Podziemski, in his first sport since breaking his nostril, scored 10 factors in his first six minutes. He canned a pair of triples, one off a wonderful additional cross from Buddy Hield, and obtained rewarded for well-timed backdoor cuts.
Podziemski has performed in a protecting masks earlier than, when he broke his nostril in school at Santa Clara, so there wasn’t a lot of an adjustment interval for him with the translucent masks. He would’ve performed on Tuesday, too, however the masks didn’t arrive in time.
Within the opening quarter during which Golden State gained, 36-18, Moses Moody didn’t get off the bench. Though the costume rehearsal obtained canceled, him being the eleventh Warrior to the touch the courtroom is noteworthy. The Warriors have 13 gamers for 10 rotation spots, and Steve Kerr has a number of robust conversations to have.
Moody, the staff’s main preseason scorer, has had an incredible offseason, and has earned enjoying time on benefit, however nonetheless may get squeezed out of the crowded rotation.
Kuminga, who’s getting into his fourth yr like Moody, was featured extra within the half courtroom than in latest preseason video games. On one play, he hit a face-up 15-footer. Quickly after, he posted up his man from close to the 3-point line, backing his manner beneath the basket for a reverse layup.
The Warriors led the Lakers by double digits all the night time, taking a 66-40 benefit into halftime and pushing it to 42 to finish the third quarter off a flurry from Hield (14 factors in quarter-hour) and a fast-break dunk from Podziemski.
Moody began the second half rather than Draymond Inexperienced, who was solely scheduled to play the primary half. Inexperienced was efficient in his 16 minutes, dishing 5 assists and drawing a cost. He earned the possibility to sit down and watch his teammates’ onslaught.
The fourth quarter devolved into one thing solely resembling basketball. Gamers walked throughout performs and chucked 3s. A Laker dribbled a handoff off his leg and out of bounds. Pat Spencer led the reserves with a dunk and a trio of assists, pushing the lead over 50.
Friday’s sport was a whole throwaway. The rating didn’t point out something. An undefeated preseason most likely doesn’t imply a lot in any respect, both.
However profitable can’t damage.
“I like winning, so that part has been good,” Steve Kerr mentioned pregame. “I like where we are, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us.”
