Although the Warriors were missing Kevon Looney (illness) and Draymond Green (ankle) they treated their fourth preseason game a bit more like a real one. Stephen Curry certainly did.
Against the Kings in the Chase Center, six Warriors played at least 28 minutes. Rookie Brandin Podziemski and the two-way players didn’t get off the bench. Steve Kerr’s substitution patterns appeared more simulated to a regular season contest.
The Kings treated the exhibition similarly, with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis leading what was nearly a wire-to-wire winning effort.
But Chris Paul and Curry engineered a furious late comeback. A banked 3-pointer from Curry brought the Warriors within a point with 30 seconds left, and the superstar fist-pumped to the crowd after his team got a stop on the other end as if it was June, not October.
Then after Dario Saric clanked each of his two free throw attempts, Curry delivered again. For his 30th points of the night, he gave the Warriors their first lead since they led 17-16 in the first quarter. The game-winner? A step-back, dagger 3-pointer from 31 feet out.
Then, of course, the obligatory “night-night celebration.” In seven fourth-quarter minutes, Curry scored 16 points and didn’t miss a 3-pointer.
In the last three minutes, the Warriors outscored the Kings 15 to eight. Behind Curry’s late-game heroics, the Warriors remained undefeated in the preseason with a 116-115 win over Sacramento.
Here are three takeaways from Golden State’s victory.
Jonathan Kuminga: Can we take a beat?
A quick Google search of Kuminga’s name reveals some of the hype that has surrounded the third-year wing. Is Kuminga the key to keeping Golden State’s title window open, one headline reads. Is he ready to take the leap, another posits. Deadspin asked if he’s finally earning his place.
They’re all interesting — and perhaps even prescient — stories. Kuminga has all the athleticism and talent in the world. Plus, he entered Wednesday night leading all players in preseason scoring. The team is excited to see what he can do.
But maybe the hype train needs to make a quick stop. The question with Kuminga was never whether he can score in meaningless games (he sure can). It’s how he’ll be able to fit into the Warriors’ system and play winning basketball.
On Wednesday, the 21-year-old made a lot of mistakes that have held him back in the past. He flew by shooters on two wild closeouts. He stepped out of bounds underneath the hoop that negated a layup. He turned the ball over on an errant, ill-advised outlet pass.
As always with Kuminga, there were still moments of brilliance. In the fourth quarter, he played the passing lane well before affecting a corner 3-point attempt, then drilled a 3 in semi transition on the other end.
For Kuminga to make the leap, he’ll have to show growth in the little things. For as long as the Warriors have a combination of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Chris Paul, they won’t need Kuminga to be the 20-point scorer he is perhaps already capable of being.
Kerr has harped on the importance of Kuminga’s rebounding on both ends. He has room to develop as an off-ball defender, too. Decision-making off cuts and as a screener could go a long way, too.
Dario Saric putting the “D” in depth
Before the game, Steve Kerr said he is “thrilled” with the roster’s depth. That could be the biggest difference between this squad and last year’s.
The Warriors are no longer burning roster spots at the end of the bench. They go at least 12 deep with actual, functional NBA players. Even Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, expected to contribute in their third seasons, will have to compete for minutes.
One of those depth pieces stood out: Dario Saric.
In the first quarter alone, Saric showed how he can provide value. He ran successive pick-and-pops with Chris Paul — a familiar screening partner — first driving a JaVale McGee closeout for a layup and then canning a wide open 3 from the wing. Later, he sank a floater from Paul and then found Klay Thompson on a backdoor cut.
When he’s the center in units with other shooters, there’s so much spacing.
Saric will essentially fill the Nemanja Bjelica role from two years ago — a role Golden State seriously missed last year. The six-year veteran has more talent than Bjelica, with valuable creativity, court vision, feel and shooting touch.
And given Golden State’s depth, he’ll be an overqualified third big man behind Draymond Green and Kevon Looney. That’s a real luxury.
Although Saric missed what could have been the game-winning free throws, he still finished with 14 points and six rebounds on 6-for-10 shooting.
Could a Domantas Sabonis regression be coming?
Domantas Sabonis earned his third All-Star selection last year while being the focal point of the league’s best offense. He gets out of bed with 19 points and 12 rebounds and his physicality gives opposing bigs nightmares.
But Sabonis probably won’t repeat his career-high 61.5% field goal percentage from last year. Opponents have an entire year of film to scheme against his handoff-heavy offense.
This thought has less to do with Sabonis struggling to score against undersized rookie center Trayce Jackson-Davis in an exhibition than his performance in last year’s playoff series against the Warriors. He did have an injured hand, but he settled for too many jumpers and looked like he lost a mental battle with the gritty Warriors.
How much, if at all, will that experience linger? Will he trade out too many shots at the rim for attempts on the perimeter? Can he counter whatever adjustments the league throws at him? Are the Warriors in his head?
Just asking questions. It’s the preseason.