Steph Curry, Draymond Green capture Warriors’ future preview vs. Rockets – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

Stephen Curry watched from the opening tip, the spectacular and the terrible, from a spot on the Warriors’ bench, where he was joined near the end by Draymond Green, who fouled out with 8.3 seconds left in a two-point game.

From the sidelines, Golden State’s dual touchstones, retired and unavailable, got a glimpse of Golden State’s future. The one that exists when they are retired and no longer available.

The 30-something veterans had to like, maybe love, what the saw from 21-year-old Brandin Podziemski and 22-year-old Jonathan Kuminga, two youngsters the front office hopes can develop into All-Stars.

The Warriors won’t win many games with Curry and Green seeing crucial minutes, but Podziemski and Kuminga made sure they got this one, a 127-121 overtime victory over the rallying Rockets on their floor in Houston.

The Warriors would not have pushed this game into OT without Podziemski’s perfect shooting in the fourth quarter (3 of 3). The 6-foot-4 combo guard succeeded not with textbook leaps, but with exquisite footwork and his trademark pick-and-roll.

“He took Amen to the post a couple of times,” Green, referring to 6-foot-7 Amen Thompson, told reporters at the Toyota Center. “He gets in on bigger guys and makes those shots. As much as I’ll applaud his skill, it’s the heart. It’s ‘I want the ball at that moment and I’m going to do whatever I have to do to score this basketball.’

“Obviously, his footwork, taking guys to the post, the footwork was great. But it’s sheer will and determination. That’s why he leads the league in plus/minus. In that moment, no matter how it went, he wanted the ball. He took tough shots and he made tough shots.”

The Warriors were hit in the fourth and lost the quarter 39-23. Podziemski scored seven of those points, all in the final four minutes, the last a 12-foot turnaround fadeaway that gave Golden State a 118-112 lead with 51.5 seconds left.

“We were getting killed,” Podziemski said. “My mindset was ‘I’m going to try to get a bucket. If we lose, that’s how we’re going to lose. Somebody’s going to have to try to get a bucket.’ That was my thinking.”

But no. The Rockets got a 3-pointer from Jabari Smith Jr. and four free throws before the end of regulation, and the Warriors’ final points before OT came when Podziemski split two free throws with 28.4 seconds left.

When Green was whistled for his disqualifying sixth foul 20 seconds later, circumstances appeared to darken. The Warriors, who shot 36.4 percent from the field in the second half, trudged into OT against a Houston team that scored 76 points on 57.1 percent shooting from the field — including 52.6 percent from distance — in the third and fourth quarters .

With Curry and Green in attendance for OT, Kuminga summoned his highlight gene and lit up the Rockets and their building.

“I went into overtime just playing good defense, so I put (Kevon Looney) and Kyle (Anderson) in,” Kerr said. “We needed JK’s ability to hit the switches and get downhill.”

Kerr got his wish. The Warriors limited Houston to 1-of-12 shooting in OT, and Kuminga tore through his defense like a hot arrow through tissue paper.

Kuminga’s “hello” for the Rockets was a midrange turnaround jumper 40 seconds into OT, putting the Warriors up two. His “good night” was a transition layup that made it four with 3:05 left. His “goodnight” was another blast through the Houston defense for a layup that made it 127-121 with 1:18 left.

“He just took over,” Kerr said of Kuminga. “He was amazing.”

When Kuminga came off the floor, Draymond was there with a greeting and a hug. He has taken a special interest in Kuminga since the Warriors selected the young man seventh overall in the 2021 draft. Kuminga doesn’t have Draymond’s ability for the game, and they both know it. Draymond doesn’t have Kuminga’s astonishing athleticism.

Podziemski doesn’t have Curry’s incomparable shooting/scoring ability—nobody does—or his flair for the dramatic. Curry doesn’t have Podziemski’s gift for rebounding or tormenting opponents. What they share, and this is important, is overwhelming serenity in big moments.

Kuminga won’t be the next Draymond, but that doesn’t stop Green from mentoring. Podziemski won’t be the next Steph, but that doesn’t stop Curry from cheering.

The Golden State bar set by Curry and Green is incredibly high. It is unrealistic to think that Podziemski and Kuminga can face it.

It is quite realistic to think that the youngsters are better off breathing the same air as the decorated vets who saw them finish a daunting job.

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