Steph-less Warriors Run Out of Steam in Loss to Sacramento Kings
The Golden State Warriors led for most of the first half despite being without Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler. Inside the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Curry joined the pregame huddle via FaceTime, Green acted as an assistant coach in a navy sweatsuit, and Butler was absent.
Missing their top three stars—two of whom didn’t travel up I-80—the Warriors eventually lost energy against a shorthanded Sacramento Kings squad. Golden State built a double-digit lead before halftime, but Sacramento fought back to secure a 121–116 victory.
“It was an amazing effort by our guys, and it should be a learning experience for our group,”
said coach Steve Kerr after his depleted roster fell short against the Kings, who were also missing Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine.
Rookie Will Richard led all scorers with 30 points, Moses Moody tallied a career-high 28, and Jonathan Kuminga contributed 24 points and a team-best nine rebounds. Still, Russell Westbrook’s triple-double—23 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists—along with five other Kings in double figures proved too much for Golden State.
Richard, a second-round draft pick making his first career start, scored heavily early alongside Kuminga as the two combined for all but two of the Warriors’ first 23 points, helping them to a 32–25 lead after the opening quarter.
Author’s Summary
Despite strong performances from young Warriors players, Golden State couldn’t maintain momentum and fell to the Kings 121–116 in a gritty, short-handed clash.