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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 15: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2026 in New York City.
The Golden State Warriors got a glimpse of what Brandin Podziemski is capable of on Friday night at Golden 1 Center. The third-year guard poured in a career-high 30 points against the Sacramento Kings, the best offensive night of his young NBA career. It was the kind of performance that deserved a different outcome.
It did not get one. Golden State trailed by 12 at halftime, stormed back with a 38-19 third quarter, then collapsed in the fourth. The Kings poured in 42 points in the final frame to complete a 124-118 victory. The loss dropped the Warriors to 37-44.
Podziemski’s night stood out regardless. So did a concerning moment involving Steph Curry ahead of Sunday’s regular-season finale.
Podziemski Reaches New Heights
GettyBrandin Podziemski of the Golden State Warriors.
The 30-point night did not come out of nowhere. Over his last eight games, Podziemski has averaged 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.4 assists while shooting better than 54 percent from the floor and nearly 46 percent from three. He has quietly become the most consistent offensive option Golden State has had down the stretch of a difficult season.
He was the only Warrior to crack 20 points on Friday, in a game where the Kings had four players reach that mark. Podziemski was also the only starter to play the majority of the fourth quarter. The trust Steve Kerr has built in him is showing up in the minutes.
Curry Injury Scare Clouds the Night
GettySteph Curry of the Golden State Warriors is a four-time NBA champion.
The more pressing storyline heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale was what happened to Stephen Curry in the first three minutes of the game. Kings guard Devin Carter stole the ball from Curry at midcourt, and on the play, Curry appeared to roll his right ankle and went down in visible discomfort. He limped off after a timeout was called and was seen doing band work and stretching on the bench.
Curry stayed in the game, which was a relief. What he could not do was replicate any version of his usual self. He went into halftime with three points on 1-of-6 shooting and played just five minutes of the fourth quarter before being pulled. He finished with 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting to go with five assists, three rebounds, and two steals in 27 minutes.
The ankle bears watching ahead of Sunday’s finale in Los Angeles. Golden State cannot afford any setbacks going into the play-in.
A Warriors Lineup Worth Noting
Amid the chaos, Friday also offered something worth filing away for later. The starting lineup of Curry, Podziemski, Gui Santos, Draymond Green, and Kristaps Porzingis was the 42nd different starting five Golden State deployed this season. Injuries made continuity impossible all year.
That group opened the game with a 17-14 lead and showed flashes of what the combination can do before the bench took over. Al Horford also returned after missing 14 games with a calf strain, finishing with 10 points in 18 minutes off the bench. Porzingis contributed in his return from illness, and the two connected for one of the night’s cleaner plays when Horford found a cutting Porzingis for a dunk late in the third quarter.
The pieces are starting to align. The timing is not ideal.
Final Word for the Warriors
Friday’s loss does not change much for Golden State in the short term. The play-in is coming regardless, and the bracket will sort itself out after Sunday.
What matters most heading into the end of the regular season is Curry’s ankle. A healthy Steph Curry changes the conversation entirely for a Warriors team that needs every advantage it can get in the play-in.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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