San Francisco – Steve Kerr has been adjusting his lineup since the start of the preseason, and tonight was no exception. Still searching for the right rhythm, Kerr experimented with matchups throughout the game. The most effective combination likely came at the end, securing the Warriors’ 109-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings—their second win against the Kings in three days.
“I think we were tired tonight,” said Kerr. “I think our guys need a day off, which they’ll get tomorrow, but it’s hard to play when you don’t have energy and pace. Sacramento, I thought outplayed us the whole game. The result wasn’t the right one.”
Moses Moody closed the fourth quarter with 5 points, while Lindy Waters III added 6 points from the free-throw line, and Brandon Podziemski contributed 5 points, showcasing the team’s depth. Moody had a breakout performance, scoring 23 points in 25 minutes. Jonathan Kuminga also impressed with 19 points and 7 rebounds. This season, Steve Kerr has plenty of options, as the Warriors’ roster is loaded with talent. While the team could still use a big man, they are stacked with shooters.
“I didn’t play as much as I wanted to last year, so I obviously wasn’t in a place where I needed to be,” Moody said. “Not even looking for the gratification this early on — you see how it goes — but I did the work.”
The Kings showed improved ball movement and committed fewer turnovers, but San Francisco rallied from an 8-point deficit, down 91-83 in the fourth quarter, to win the game. After Podziemski’s jump shot, Sacramento sent the Warriors to the free-throw line. Waters secured a crucial defensive rebound, preventing the Kings from getting another shot as the buzzer sounded.
“We made poor decisions that I thought set a tone,” Kerr explained. “The turnovers were a result of poor execution. That’s on us as a coaching staff.”
San Francisco committed 24 turnovers, and the momentum shifted in the second quarter when De’Aaron Fox scored 9 points, including three 3-pointers. The Warriors struggled with outside shooting and made several poor passes inside. Fox tied the game at 34-34 and put Sacramento ahead 37-34. Draymond Green picked up his 4th personal foul, a key setback. The Kings led 58-55 at halftime. Stephen Curry had only 6 points, while Moses Moody led the Warriors with 14.
Curry and Green didn’t finish the game. Curry jammed his finger in the first half, and was expected to play the third, but was held out. Post-game X-rays were negative, and he’s listed as day-to-day.
The Warriors started the game with several turnovers and appeared out of sync. Kyle Anderson had a strong start, scoring 6 points. Sacramento quickly double-teamed Curry, but teamwork helped San Francisco hit a few threes and take the lead. Once the second unit came in, Curry found more room to operate and added 5 points in the first quarter. Though the Warriors were up by 8 at one point, the Kings rallied and closed the first quarter down just 34-30.
“Coming back from the second half, our energy kind of dropped,” said Kuminga. “And those guys just came in and picked up the energy.”
The Warriors will host the Detroit Pistons this Sunday at 5:30 PM PST
Steve Kerr on Warriors’ starting lineup
ON THE STARTING LINEUP:
“Steph (Curry), Moses (Moody), Gary (Payton II), Kyle (Anderson), and Draymond (Green).”
ON THE THREE-POINT SHOOTING TONIGHT:
“We told them to let it fly against the Clippers too. We want the mentality every night, we want the mentality of push it in transition, play with pace. If we space the floor well, we move the ball, we’re going to get a lot of threes and that’s how we’re trying to play.”
ON WHAT HE LIKES ABOUT THE GROUP STARTING TONIGHT:
“I love Gary (Payton II) with Steph (Curry). Traditionally in their time together they are one of the best two-man combinations so I wanted to see what it looked like with Gary in the starting lineup. Moses (Moody) has had a great camp so I wanted to reward him for his play, and obviously he compliments those guys with his shooting. Then I think it’s interesting to see what it looks like with Kyle (Anderson) and Draymond (Green) together because of their playmaking ability and their defensive acumen. Just taking a look.”
ON IF HE IS LOOKING TO FIND THE STARTING LINEUP IN THE PRESEASON:
“Everything got pushed back a little bit with Wiggs’ (Andrew Wiggins) absence. So we just have to kind of take it game-by-game for now. We want a starting lineup to form and to establish some continuity for sure.”
Photo by the GSW/Twitter
