Says Warriors coach Steve Kerr: “Tonight was not a fair fight given the Lakers sat all their guys. But it didn’t take away from how we played, how hard we played.”
It was only the close of the preseason for the Golden State Warriors, but their Friday night destruction of the rival Los Angeles Lakers by a notable score of 132-74 leaves the Warriors undefeated – which beats a lot of the alternatives.
“Hell yeah,” Brandin Podziemski said when asked if there is value in an undefeated preseason. “As a competitor, you want to win everything, no matter if it counts or it doesn’t. You want to play your best, show the coaching staff what you can do from year-to-year. But it definitely means something.”
The game unfolded with Steph Curry, having sprained his right index finger, sidelined. And the Lakers, on the second night of a preseason back-to-back, sat just most of the guys you’ve heard of, including LeBron James, and Anthony Davis.
But going 6-0 preseason – the Warriors are only team in the NBA to go undefeated in the preseason – is something to build on. Jonathan Kuminga scored a team-high 17 points and Podziemski (in his first game back since breaking his nose and here wearing a protective mask) was one of six Warriors to register double-digit scoring. In that group was Buddy Hield with 14 points in 15 minutes.
LeBron’s son, rookie Bronny James, played a starting role for the Lakers and scored 17 points on 7-for-17 shooting.
For the Lakers, it was a forgettable outing; not often is an NBA game decided by 54 points. But for the Warriors, who will be in Portland for their season-opener next Wednesday.
“We’ve had a great preseason,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. “We’ve had a lot of competition, we’ve had every guy coming in in good shape. Playing hard, playing well, playing together.”
By Wednesday, Curry should be good to go in terms of joining a first-team crew that here included Draymond Green, who in his 16 first-half minutes handed out five assists and drew a charge.
Said Kerr: “Tonight, obviously, was not a fair fight given the Lakers sat all their guys. But it didn’t take away from how we played, how hard we played. I’m really pleased with our progress to this point, and it’ll be fun to get started for real.”
