Steph, Draymond catch preview of Warriors’ future in win vs. Rockets

Steph, Draymond catch preview of Warriors’ future in win vs. Rockets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Stephen Curry watched from the opening tip, the spectacular and the dreadful, from a seat on the Warriors’ bench, where near the end he was joined by Draymond Green, who fouled out with 8.3 seconds remaining in a two-point game.

From the sideline, Golden State’s twin touchstones, retired and unavailable, caught a glimpse of Golden State’s future. The one that exists when they are retired and no longer available.

The thirtysomething veterans had to like, maybe love, what the saw from 21-year-old Brandin Podziemski and 22-year-old Jonathan Kuminga, two youngsters the front office hope can evolve into All-Stars.

The Warriors won’t win many games with Curry and Green observing the decisive minutes, but Podziemski and Kuminga made sure they got this one, a 127-121 overtime victory over the rallying Rockets on their floor in Houston.

The Warriors would not have pushed this game into OT without Podziemski’s perfect fourth-quarter shooting (3 of 3). The 6-foot-4 combo guard succeeded not with textbook jump shots but with exquisite footwork and his trademark pluck.

“He took Amen to the post a couple times,” Green, referring to 6-foot-7 Amen Thompson, told reporters at Toyota Center. “He’s getting in there over bigger guys and making those shots. As much as I want to applaud his skill, that’s heart. That’s ‘I want the ball in that moment, and I’m going to do whatever I have to do to score this basketball.’

“Obviously, his footwork, taking guys to the post, the footwork was great. But that’s sheer will and determination. That’s why he leads the league in plus/minus. In that moment, regardless how it was going, he wanted the ball. He took tough shots, and he made tough shots.”

The Warriors were walloped in the fourth, losing the quarter 39-23. Podziemski scored seven of those points, all inside the final four minutes, the last a 12-foot turnaround fadeaway that gave Golden State a 118-112 lead with 51.5 seconds remaining.

“We were getting killed,” Podziemski said. “My mindset…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/steph-draymond-catch-preview-warriors-164928529.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-11-03 16:49:00

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