Steph-less Warriors Run Out of Steam in Loss to Sacramento Kings
The Warriors led for most of the first half despite missing Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler. Stephen Curry joined the pregame huddle via FaceTime, Draymond Green acted as an assistant coach wearing a navy blue sweatsuit, and Jimmy Butler was absent from the game at Golden 1 Center.
Without their top three stars—two of whom did not travel to Sacramento—the Warriors eventually faltered against a Kings team also missing key players.
Game Overview
Golden State built a double-digit lead by halftime but lost 121-116. Coach Steve Kerr commented on the effort and the learning opportunity from the game.
“It was an amazing effort by our guys, and it should be a learning experience for our group,” said Kerr, whose B-squad fell short against a Sacramento team without Domantas Sabonis or Zach LaVine.
Key Performances
- Rookie Will Richard scored a team-high 30 points in his first career start.
- Moses Moody had a career-best 28 points.
- Jonathan Kuminga contributed 24 points and led the team with nine rebounds.
- Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists for the Kings.
- Five other Kings players also scored in double figures.
Richard and Kuminga scored all but two of the Warriors’ first 23 points, helping Golden State take a 32-25 lead after the first quarter.
Summary
The Warriors showed resilience without their stars but were ultimately outmatched by a deep Sacramento team, highlighting areas for growth.
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