Category: NBA

What we learned as Steph Curry's huge third quarter fuels Warriors' win vs. Jazz originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

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SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors seem to get a boost whenever Draymond Green is banished from a game.

Trailing by 12 when Green was ejected late in the second quarter, the Warriors responded by outscoring the Utah Jazz by 21 points over the final 26 minutes and cruising to a 123-114 victory Saturday night at Chase Center.

Five Warriors scored in double figures, led by Stephen Curry’s 31 points. Jimmy Butler III and Quinten Post each scored 15 points, while De’Anthony Melton had 13 and Gary Payton II finished with 10.

Golden State (19-17) recorded 32 assists and overcame 15 turnovers that gave the Jazz (12-22) 22 points.

Here are three observations from a game that dropped Utah to 0-11 at Chase Center:

Steph’s insane third quarter

After a nine-point first half during which he shot 2-of-8 from the field, including 2-of-7 from beyond the arc, Curry blasted out of intermission and delivered 11 minutes of spectacular offensive pyrotechnics.

His full arsenal was on display, everything from slashing layups to midrange jumpers to free throws to step-backs and pull-ups from distance – including a 36-footer. Coach Steve Kerr, who typically pulls Curry four or five minutes into the quarter, let him cook until less than a minute remained.

Curry’s third 20-point quarter of the season – and 45th of his career – came on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, including 4-of-6 from deep and 4-of-4 from the line.

STEPH FROM WAY DEEP 😳 pic.twitter.com/beXKXM52CM

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 4, 2026

Moreover, Curry’s outburst powered a 42-point quarter for Golden State, wiping out a seven-point halftime deficit and allowing for a four-point lead (100-96) to open the fourth quarter.

Curry‘s 31 points came on 8-of-18 shooting from the field, including 6-of-12 from beyond the arc. He was 9-of-9 from the line.

Draymond does it again

With 2:25 remaining in the first half, Green received two technical fouls and an automatic ejection after complaining long and loudly to two different officials.

Tech No. 1, whistled by umpire Simone Jelks, came after Green defended Kyle Filipowski in the paint beyond three seconds. When Jelks, stationed along the baseline, didn’t call the violation, Green turned toward her and protested. As he protested, Lauri Markkanen breezed past him for a dunk.

Tech No. 2 came after Green turned his ire toward referee Kevin Cutler, who wasted little time blowing his whistle and banishing Green, who walked directly to the locker room.

Draymond got two techs and was ejected in this sequence 😳 pic.twitter.com/J4PeJXNNIP

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 4, 2026

Though Green had a point with his protest, he took his protest far beyond what typical officials will allow. This was the third time in the last three home games that he failed to finish, twice due to ejections and once after a heated argument with coach Steve Kerr.

The Warriors won the first two such games, and the third on Saturday.

Melton finds wayward 3-ball

Since concluding rehab from ACL surgery and returning on Dec. 4, Melton has played solid defense, made smart plays and struggled mightily with his 3-point shot. The career 36.4-percent shooter from deep entered the game shooting 16.7 percent (6 of 36).

Melton made his first one with 3:58 left in the first quarter, drained his second 87 seconds later and a third with 2:13 left in the first half.

Melton’s 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field, including 3-of-7 from distance.

Melton is on 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rYi4wn8ryq

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 4, 2026

The last time Melton made at least three triples in a game was Dec. 7 at Chicago. He had missed 24 of 27 3-point attempts before Saturday night.

Already a rotation fixture, Melton would be a welcome tonic for Golden State’s perimeter offense if he shoots the 3-ball at his customary level. 

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This is what the Lakers imagined when they nearly broke the NBA with the trade that brought Luka Doncic to L.A.

Doncic and LeBron James scored 30 points apiece during the same game for just the third time as teammates Friday to help the Lakers hold off the Memphis Grizzlies 128-121 at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic led the way with 34 points, using 17-of-20 shooting from the free-throw line to maintain his NBA-leading scoring average, while James had 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting with nine rebounds and six assists.

The Lakers (21-11) needed 41-year-old James to be at his best. They squandered 13- and 15-point leads in the first and second quarters, respectively, but pieced together a timely 12-2 run in the fourth to improve their record in clutch games to 11-0.

“It felt like nearly every time we needed a bucket, he just kind of willed [it],” coach JJ Redick said of James, “whether it was driving the basketball, getting to the paint, getting to two feet, and he was just phenomenal tonight."

Here are three takeaways from the win:

Jake LaRavia stars in his role

James and Doncic led the way, but another player set the strongest tone for the night.

“Obviously it started with Jake,” James said.

Jake LaRavia scored 21 points, hitting three of his six three-point attempts, with nine rebounds, two steals and a block. In the starting lineup for the injured Rui Hachimura (calf), LaRavia delivered the necessary spark of energy on defense while also getting his shot going early to add a scoring punch.

“When I just talk about roles and the amount of hats that I can wear with this team, some nights, this is what happens,” LaRavia said. “Other nights I'm that defender, connector, crasher, like all that kind of stuff. So just continuing to play confidently throughout but also understanding what my role is going to be each game.”

The Lakers coveted the 6-foot-7, 24-year-old forward during the offseason for his versatility on defense and his three-point shooting on offense. He hit his first three-pointer on Friday. Then he nailed another midrange jumper 28 seconds later. He had 11 points in the first quarter and 18 in the first half.

Read more:'Who is No. 12?' Jake LaRavia let Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves know during Lakers win

LaRavia knew almost instantly it could finally be his night again.

LaRavia hadn’t scored 20 points in a game since Nov. 2 as his playing time has fluctuated with the Lakers’ ever-changing injury report. He is also shooting a career-low 30.9% from three after shooting 42.3% from long distance last season.

But LaRavia asked his teammates to maintain their confidence in him as he worked with assistant coach Beau Levesque to fine-tune his shot again.

“He says, ‘Control the input and the output is going to show for itself,’” LaRavia said of the coach. “So that's kind of what I'm doing right now. I'm just working on my shot, starting with the basics again, and just kind of going from there. And, you know, hopefully I can find my rhythm again. And tonight was just the start.”

Friday was LaRavia’s first game with three three-pointers since Oct. 29 when he made five of six against the Timberwolves, prompting the viral moment of fans shouting "Who is No. 12?"

Jaxson Hayes gets the closing nod

Last year, Jaxson Hayes watched the Lakers’ season end from the bench after he fell out of the playoff rotation in the first round against Minnesota. The 7-foot center started the first four playoff games, but never played more than 10 minutes in each as his role dwindled to not playing at all in the decisive Game 5.

After the benching, Hayes said he had something to prove this season.

He made a loud statement Tuesday, earning the closing minutes over starter Deandre Ayton. Hayes played 11 minutes and nine seconds of the tight fourth quarter and finished with13 points on five-of-six shooting.

Ayton had four points and six rebounds, but the Lakers were outscored by one during his 24 minutes and 49 seconds compared with a plus-eight scoring margin during Hayes' 23 minutes and 11 seconds.

"He was playing better,” Redick said of the decision to play Hayes at the end of the game.

Read more:Luka Doncic and LeBron James help fuel late Lakers surge in win over Grizzlies

Hayes has 25 points on 10-of-11 shooting in the last two games since returning from an ankle injury. Defensively, Hayes added two steals, two rebounds and a block Friday. Hayes is shooting a career-best 78%, but he does not qualify for the league’s official leaderboard with just 64 makes on 82 attempts.

Doncic praised Hayes for his improvement in the pick-and-roll, noting how the center is finding “the right pocket” while Doncic is handling the ball.

“His ability to control the paint for us has been huge,” said guard Marcus Smart, who flirted with a triple-double with 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. “… Just his ability to go get the ball at the highest point when we throw it and then defensively to alter shots, whether he’s blocking them or just changing shots for us allows our defense to pick it up from our guards even more. To have that urgency that he brings, that’s huge.”

Dalton Knecht to get more playing time 

Diminished defense headlined the Lakers’ December struggles, but the offense was also out of sync during the Lakers’ 5-7 month. They were ranked 18th in offensive rating during December and were shooting 33.9% from three-point range, which ranked 25th in the league.

With several of the team’s top shooters currently injured, Redick is opening the door for second-year forward Dalton Knecht to work back into the rotation. Knecht will get "consistent" playing time over the next few weeks, Redick said, but he won't be solely judged on his shooting percentage while he tries to stick in the lineup.

"Play hard,” Redick said before the game of what Knecht needs to do to stay in the lineup. “That's been the biggest playing emphasis for him all season. He's not going to be judged on whether he makes or misses shots. That helps. When you go through a stretch and you feel like your team isn't playing hard, you got to play the guys that are consistently playing hard.”

Read more:Plaschke: Thank you, L.A. sports teams, for saving me during the worst year

Knecht was scoreless in 10 minutes and 47 seconds against the Grizzlies, missing both of his three-point attempts and notching one turnover.

Knecht is shooting 37.3% from three in his short NBA career, but has struggled to stick in the lineup because of defensive lapses. He grabbed Maxi Kleber’s minutes at the end of the Lakers' rotation after not playing in the first half of a game since Dec. 23 against Phoenix, a blowout loss.

The Lakers are digging into their bench while injuries pile up. Austin Reaves remains out at least three more weeks because of a calf strain. Forward Adou Thiero was diagnosed with a right MCL sprain on New Year’s Eve and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Guard Gabe Vincent is closing in on a return from a back injury that’s cost him seven games. The Lakers hope he can be available for at least one of their upcoming road games, Redick said, against New Orleans on Tuesday or in San Antonio on Wednesday.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

There have been good weeks and bad weeks for the Lakers this season.

Ahead of Friday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies, they were trending downward after losing four of their last five games.

The Memphis game turned into a microcosm of that trend, with the Lakers building leads through effort and intensity only to see them crumble behind less-inspired play.

In the end, standout performances from Luka Doncic and LeBron James helped the Lakers surge late and hold on for a 128-121 win at Crypto.com Arena.

Read more:Lakers takeaways: Pistons dominate paint as Lakers close out a sub-.500 December

Doncic and James made sure the 15-point lead the Lakers held before it dissolved by the end of the third quarter wasn't completely achieved in vain. Doncic made 17 of 20 free throws in scoring 34 points with eight assists and six rebounds, and James had 31 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

They got help from Jake LaRavia, who scored 21 points on eight-for-12 shooting in addition to nine rebounds and stellar defense. Marcus Smart had 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and Jaxson Hayes scored 12 points off the bench.

The Lakers improved to an NBA-best 11-0 when within five or fewer points of their opponent heading into the final five minutes.

“I think we have a lot of people that closed the game, especially (me), when LeBron, he took over today,” Doncic said. “(Jarred Vanderbilt) hit a big shot. Jake hit a big shot. Jaxson had a big dunk. So, it's just everybody.”

It was a group effort that helped the Lakers seal the win in the fourth quarter. It also marked the first time since March that Doncic and James scored at least 30 points in the same game.

“It was just playing and playing in rhythm,” James said. “We’re trying to find ways that we can be productive. Obviously, Luka did a great job of getting to the free-throw line. ... He made a step-back three, a big-time shot there.

"Myself, just trying to sprinkle in a little bit here, a little bit there. Just trying to be consistent and be super efficient with my play. So we worked well off each other today and we led the group.”

The Lakers (21-11) went down 110-109 in the fourth quarter before going on a 12-2 run to take the lead for good.

The teams will meet again here Sunday night.

“We made some big-time plays offensively and we were sharing the ball, and guys made some big-time shots,” James said. “Vando’s three, Jake’s three on the other side of their bench at the end of the shot clock, Jax had a big-time dunk down the middle. So, those are key moments. And then defensively, we were able to get a couple shots, get a couple rebounds. That allowed us to kind of start pushing the lead up.”

Vincent update

Gabe Vincent (lumbar back strain) missed his seventh straight game, but Redick said the team hopes he can practice Saturday and that if he does, it will “be modified.”

Redick said Vincent will not play Sunday against the Grizzlies, but the hope is that he can play either at New Orleans on Tuesday or at San Antonio on Wednesday.

"We've got to get him exposure to live play, and with the travel day on Monday, that's gonna be tough," Redick said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Knicks have now learned the hard way that both superb and pitiful shooting displays from three-point range can be found in losing streaks.

Just two days after draining a monstrous 22 threes in a New Year's Eve road loss to the Spurs, New York posed no threat from beyond the arc, missing a ghastly 33-of-42 shots from deep in a flat 111-99 home loss to the Hawks.

While the Knicks played shorthanded, ultimately lacking the size and scoring threats to keep pace with Atlanta, the rough performance at Madison Square Garden couldn't have been anticipated. 

They shot a season-worst 21 percent from three, and were held below 100 points for the first time.

To make matters worse, the Knicks struggled once again to defend with ample physicality and energy. They allowed the Hawks to score 58 points inside the paint, and by committing 15 total turnovers, another 19 points were tacked on in transition.

"If the shot's not falling, where else are we going to hang our hat? It has to be on the defensive end of the floor," Knicks head coach Mike Brown said. "We didn't get it done throughout most of the game tonight... I thought we had some good looks that we normally knock down with the guys that are taking them, but you can't take away from what Atlanta did."

The absences of Karl-Anthony Towns (illness), Josh Hart (ankle), and Mitchell Robinson (ankle) on Friday placed pressure on Jalen Brunson to pull more weight than usual. And while the Knicks' captain embraced the challenge, scoring a game-high 24 points, he contributed to the three-point swoon, making just one on eight attempts.

"We just didn't have it tonight. I know that's a terrible, lame-ass excuse, but we let shot-making affect our overall gameplay," said Brunson, named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December. "That includes our pace, sense of urgency, everything. Just wasn't our solid basketball today."

Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby were fruitless from deep, too, finishing a combined 4 for 17. Miles McBride, thrust into the starting lineup, made a pair of quick first-quarter threes but then missed eight of nine from there.

"There's no excuse, we've just got to be better," Bridges said. "It is what it is, you've got to learn from it and get ready for tomorrow. Obviously we're missing three key guys, but we've got everybody else in this locker room to come in and step up."

The Knicks' low energy through three quarters of action prompted boos from fans, and Brown acknowledged their noise and frustrations. They've now dropped back-to-back games for the first time since losing three straight in late October.

The Knicks will be shorthanded a bit longer. 

The team announced following Friday's disappointing loss to the Atlanta Hawks that Josh Hart has begun doing some light court work, and he will be reevaluated in one week. 

Hart, of course, has missed the last four games due to a sprained ankle suffered during the fourth quarter of the Christmas Day victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He did not travel with the team during their recent road trip and was still being evaluated. 

Though Hart will be out a bit longer, it's a good sign that he's able to get back on the court in some capacity. 

The veteran small forward was enjoying his best stretch of the season prior to the injury, averaging 14.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists over his last 13 games. 

New York has received nice boosts in his absence, but they could certainly use his high-energy all-around play. 

The return home from a brutal New Year's Eve loss and the welcomed calendar flip to 2026 didn't solve recent struggles for the Knicks, as they struggled mightily to score and defend in a frustrating 111-99 loss to the Hawks on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

Here are the takeaways...

-- As if the Knicks' depth needed to be tested further -- Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson have missed the last four and three games, respectively, due to injury -- they entered Friday night with yet another impact player unavailable. Karl-Anthony Towns, initially listed as questionable with an illness, was downgraded to out prior to tip-off. The absence of Towns pushed Miles McBride into the starting five for a 10th time this season, and with Robinson also sidelined, Ariel Hukporti received his fourth start. The Knicks have now produced 10 different starting lineups over 34 games.

-- McBride quickly took advantage of his elevated role, draining a pair of threes that helped the Knicks climb out to an early 11-2 lead. While all five Knicks starters added points within the first four minutes of play, the Hawks gradually collected themselves, producing a sudden 14-3 run that knotted the score at 16-16 by the 7:33 mark. From there, both teams attacked with steady ball movement for lead changes, but an uptick in scoring from the Hawks placed them ahead by three, 33-30, after 12 minutes.

-- The Hawks opened the second quarter with six quick points that prompted the Knicks to burn a timeout, trailing by nine. After the break in action, Jordan Clarkson made a three to cut the Knicks' deficit back down to six, but their hole reached double digits with 2:40 left in the half, and then an imposing 15 with 1:16 to go. The combination of sluggish offense and weak defense in the paint made The Garden crowd restless. At the break, the Knicks trailed, 60-47, shooting just 5 of 24 from three with Jalen Brunson as the leading scorer (11). Not up to snuff, considering the team made a whopping 22 shots from beyond the arc in Wednesday's loss to the Spurs. Overall, the Knicks lacked a sense of urgency on both ends of the floor.

-- The deficit ballooned to 19 after just 90 seconds of third-quarter play, prompting the Knicks to call a timeout with some desperation for a spark. Shrewdly, the Hawks maintained control by directing all attention and physicality toward Brunson, the shorthanded Knicks' lone catalyst. By the 4:06 mark, the Knicks trailed by a season-worst 24 points, and efforts from Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby with the ball were subpar -- they combined for 18 points on 5 of 17 shooting after three quarters. A smaller Knicks defense, struggling to win 50-50 balls, also had no answer for Hawks star Jalen Johnson, who needed just 28 minutes of court time to log a triple-double.

-- Better late than never, Bridges and Anunoby provided some much-needed energy early in the fourth quarter, orchestrating an 11-0 run that cut the Knicks' deficit from 24 to 13 with 8:54 left and forced a Hawks timeout. But the momentum shift was short-lived, as two threes from Luke Kennard on consecutive possessions bumped the margin back to 19. The Hawks continued to contest three attempts from the Knicks, with tremendous success. The trio of Brunson, Bridges, and Anunoby was held to a measly 5 of 27 shooting from deep -- live and die by the three, under Mike Brown's watch. 

-- Brunson tried his best to withstand contact as the aggressor and facilitator, but his 24 points and five assists weren't nearly enough, based on how little his teammates offered and how much the Hawks caused fits. To the Knicks' credit, they didn't wave the white flag amid Brunson's frustrations -- they kept chipping away and cut their deficit to single digits, 108-99, with 1:29 remaining. If only the energy and efficiency levels were higher earlier. The Knicks had no choice but to foul the Hawks in the closing minute, wiping out the slimmest chance of a miraculous comeback.

-- While the Knicks anticipated more challenges with Towns, Hart, and Robinson in street clothes, one of the team's biggest villains wasn't even suited up to pose as a threat. Hawks star Trae Young, dealing with a quad injury, cheered from the bench all night, and his absence made the Knicks' woes far more bewildering. Overall, the team shot 39 percent from the floor and a season-low 20 percent (9 of 44) from three. Bridges and Anunoby produced a hollow 18 points and 19 points apiece, and a full seven-man bench rotation contributed only 19 points. Hukporti couldn't be criticized for his effort -- he logged season-high marks in rebounds (17), blocks (4), and minutes (28).

Game MVP: Jalen Johnson

The Garden crowd was disappointed to see a different scorer named Jalen take command. The fifth-year forward delivered a triple-double of 18 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds across 38 minutes. Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker also contributed 23 points apiece.

Highlights

Mikal 🤝 Ariel pic.twitter.com/sQa3XgAQP5

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 3, 2026

Jalen Brunson hits the three! pic.twitter.com/c2WRQt7MtJ

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 3, 2026

OG steal and score 😤 pic.twitter.com/E27wCx0KPb

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 3, 2026

Up next

The Knicks (23-11) will wrap up their weekend at The Garden on Saturday night, with a matchup against the division-rival 76ers (7:30 tip-off).

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justin Champagnie scored a season-high 20 points and the Washington Wizards continued their recent improvement with a 119-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

Alex Sarr added 19 points and CJ McCollum scored 17 for the Wizards, who still have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference (9-23) but have won four out of five for the first time since Feb. 8-16, 2023.

Washington won the rebounding battle 51-33 while holding Brooklyn to a season-low six 3-pointers in 29 attempts (20.7%).

Day’Ron Sharpe, Terance Mann, Ziaire Williams and Drake Powell all had 14 points for Brooklyn (10-22), which has lost three straight following a three-game winning streak.

Washington had a 19-2 advantage in points off turnovers before halftime, and used an 18-4 run that stretched across the first and second quarters to build its lead to 18.

Champagnie’s 3-pointer as the first-quarter buzzer sounded made it 37-24. Will Riley added to the lead with a layup to open the second quarter, then fed AJ Johnson for a 3 a couple possessions later that stretched it to 44-26.

Brooklyn got within nine later in the second and third quarters before Washington stretched its lead to 23 by the end of the third and 28 early in the fourth.

Up next

Nets: Start a three-game homestand Sunday against Denver.

Wizards: Play their second of three at home Sunday against Minnesota.

Why Warriors' choice to tank without achy stars vs. Thunder was logical decision originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – With Draymond Green and De’Anthony Melton given one-game recesses, Jimmy Butler III calling in sick and Stephen Curry showing up but not suiting up, the Warriors were doomed against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Golden State’s 134-94 loss to Oklahoma City on Friday night was preordained, as any NBA team’s B squad would feel the shoe soles of the best team in the league.

The Warriors tanked this game. Not for draft positioning but for a better future.

And even though the sellout crowd at Chase Center (18,064) began streaming toward the exits early in the fourth quarter, with the Warriors trailing by 37, it was a logical decision.

Scanning their achy roster and their upcoming schedule, coach Steve Kerr and the team’s medical and training staffs opted for prudency. This was not an NBA playoff game and would not have any impact on one. So, rather than dance with risk, they chose to sacrifice a slim chance of beating OKC in hopes it would benefit the 47 games still on the schedule.

Curry was sitting because tweaked his left ankle, and any aggravation could jeopardize several weeks. Butler was on the afternoon injury report with an undisclosed illness. Green (rest) and Melton (surgery management) were scheduled to sit.

“With Draymond, that was easy,” coach Steve Kerr said two hours before tipoff. “We’re in the midst of this five [games] in seven days. At his age, coming off a trip, with three [game] in four [nights], starting tonight, it’s an easy one for us to rest Draymond tonight.

“Jimmy, we didn’t plan to. He got sick this morning, and he won’t even be coming to the game tonight. So, hopefully he gets better quickly.”

Coming off back-to-back road games on Tuesday (Brooklyn) and Wednesday (Charlotte), the Warriors on Saturday night face the Utah Jazz at Chase Center, then travel to Los Angeles on Sunday to face the Clippers on Monday night.

“The schedule is what it is,” Kerr said. “When you have an older team, you have to navigate it as best you can. We’re trying to do that.”

That, folks, is the essence of the issue. The front office assembled a roster with a core that is NBA old. Green is 35, Butler 36 and Curry 37. Al Horford, who has missed 18 of Golden State’s 35 games but played 16 minutes on Friday, is 39.

This season is, and always has been, about navigating the schedule, managing bodies, therapeutic massages – and hoping that the rest of the team showed well when the vets were unavailable.

That was the case last Dec. 6, when Golden State’s B squad beat the Cavaliers in Cleveland, but it was demolished by the Thunder.

Asked if there was anything of value, Kerr was quick with a reply.

“Not a whole lot to take from it,” he said.

“You got to forget about it,” Will Richard said.

“That was disgusting,” Trayce Jackson-Davis said. “It’s in the toilet and already flushed.”

This night was about opportunities. Would Brandin Podziemski continue his stellar recent play? He did not, scoring 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the field, including 1 of 4 from distance.

This was a chance for starting center Quinten Post, the team’s designated stretch-5, to move past his 27-percent shooting over the previous seven games. Nope. He was he was 1 of 6 against OKC.

This was an opportunity for Buddy Hield, whose 32-percent shooting from deep kicked him out of the rotation, to perhaps rediscover the shot that determines his value. He took nine shots beyond the arc, making three.

Podziemski and Post are in the rotation. And Hield at some point might be needed, if only because he addresses Kerr’s spacing fetish. All three are part of the supporting cast that will be needed for the Warriors to exploit a schedule that now swings in their favor.

Nine of their next 10 games, and 15 of their next 22, are at Chase. The Warriors don’t leave California until Jan. 22 and don’t fly east of the Mississippi River until after the Feb. 14-19 NBA All-Star break.

“It is a big opportunity,” Kerr said. “The schedule kind of swings back our way this next month, after a difficult first 20 games or so. It feels like we’re playing better. We’re playing more consistently, and with this next month’s schedule time at home, we’d love to keep our momentum going and build on this a little bit.”

Golden State still has a long-range goal, which enters 2026 invisible to the naked eye. It will stay that way unless the navigation, management and therapy works wonders.

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What we learned as short-handed Warriors suffer blowout loss at home vs. Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – Starting the new year against the Oklahoma City Thunder already was a tall task. Then came a never-ending Warriors injury report.

The Warriors were about as short-handed as it gets for their first game of 2026 against defending champions. Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green all were ruled out early in the day, as well as De’Anthony Melton. Jonathan Kuminga was a late addition two hours before tipoff and wasn’t able to go because of lower back soreness. 

Exactly one month to the date, the Warriors last played the Thunder and were without Curry but still fought for all four quarters in what wound up being a 12-point loss. The talent gap was far too wide for the Warriors to make it a competitive game one month later in a 37-point blowout loss, 131-94, Friday night at Chase Center.

Dub Nation was teased during the second quarter when the Warriors got within two points of the Thunder, 38-36, just for OKC to lock in and reel off a 19-0 run. 

Missing so much firepower, the Warriors shot 35.6 percent from the field and 29.5 percent on threes. They were below 30 percent shooting for the majority of the game.

Scoring was spread out to the Warriors having six players score in double figures, though nobody had more than the 13 points scored by Al Horford, Moses Moody and Will Richard.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors falling to 18-17 with a loss to open 2026.

Makeshift Starting Five 

Steve Kerr finally built some continuity with his starting lineup after picking names out of a hat for nearly the first two months of the season. The Warriors used the same starting lineup in each of the last seven games, going 5-2 in that span. Injuries, rest and an illness didn’t allow the streak to reach eight games. 

Only two players from the Warriors’ recent starting lineup were available to play: Moody and Quinten Post. They were joined by Brandin Podziemski, Richard and Gui Santos. The Warriors, going into their 35th game of the 2025-26 NBA season, had used 431 five-man lineups, and this group wasn’t one of them.

The Warriors were down by six when Kerr made his first substitution, and the starting five was a minus-5 together going into halftime. They were outscored 8-7 in the third quarter when Kerr first turned to his bench. Shooting could not match their spirit. 

Overall, the starting five played 10 minutes and 41 seconds together and were outscored 22-15. With all five starters on the floor, the group went 3 of 13 on 2-pointers and 2 of 8 on 3-pointers.

Spotlight Goes To Podz

Without any of the Warriors’ Big Three of Curry, Butler and Green available, the featured face for them became Podziemski. The third-year pro often is under a microscope and heavily scrutinized from outside noise. Lately, he has let his game do all the talking. 

Podziemski in December averaged 12.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists over 13 games while shooting 51.7 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from 3-point range and 81 percent at the free-throw line. He looked to be on his way to that kind of production in the first quarter, scoring four points, grabbing three rebounds and even blocking a shot. 

Though his stat line was similar in the second quarter, Podziemski was starting to get caught in the trap of the Thunder’s defense and he missed all three of his 3-point attempts. If this were a game Podziemski wanted to prove he can be the go-to guy without star power around him, he came up far short of doing so.

His fourth 3-point attempt of the night went through the nets, but it cut the Warriors’ deficit to … 29 points. Podziemski watched the entire fourth quarter from the bench, ending his night with 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting and 1 of 4 on threes, with four rebounds and four assists.

The Rookie Was Ready

After closing the previous three games, Richard was back in the starting lineup for the first time since Dec. 7. Richard also started against the Thunder last month and only scored five points with little to show in 25 minutes. His third game and second start against the Thunder was a different story – at least at first it was. 

Will Richard gets the Dubs on the board with a corner trey 👌 pic.twitter.com/dpKVmQ2B2R

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 3, 2026

Richard easily was the Warriors’ best player in the first half despite them trailing by 19 points. He scored 13 points through the first two quarters, which was one off the 14 total he scored in his first two games against the Thunder. 

The rookie right away showcased his two-way impact, especially with a crowd-pleasing steal and dunk in the second quarter. As the Warriors’ offense struggled for long stretches, Richard scored 10 of their 20 points in the second quarter.

Rook's got range and the crowd is feeling it‼️

📺@NBCSAuthenticpic.twitter.com/JF12tqxJbf

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 3, 2026

Even when Richard was missing shots, his smarts still stood out as an active defender and constant cutter offensively. But his second half was one to forget. Richard, after a 13-point first half, was scoreless in the final two quarters on 0-of-5 shooting as a minus-16.

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Kings rookie Maxime Raynaud leaves game vs. Suns with apparent knee injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings had to deal with injury on top of insult in their 129-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday at Mortgage Matchup Center, when rookie Maxime Raynaud went down and had to be helped to the locker room in the fourth quarter.

Maxime Raynaud was helped off the court after appearing to injure his knee on this play pic.twitter.com/iQvaJFExCJ

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 3, 2026

The young center, who has been starting in place of injured big man Domantas Sabonis, appeared to sustain a left knee injury with 4:19 left in the game. Raynaud fell to the ground clutching his knee after he was clipped on the ankle by a driving Russell Westbrook.

Another look at the play that injured Raynaud ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Ak1jWhGjVd

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 3, 2026

Raynaud has started every game since Dec. 6, averaging 14.6 points on 56.5-percent shooting with 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists across 11 contests during that span.

“He’s smiling, so that’s always good,” Kings coach Doug Christie told reporters of Raynaud after the game, though he didn’t have an immediate update on the rookie’s injury. “Always fingers crossed for young players. He plays so hard and he plays with his heart, and when you see stuff like that it just doesn’t necessarily sit well with you. But got my fingers crossed.”

The Kings selected Raynaud out of Stanford at No. 42 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. On the 2025-26 NBA season, the 7-foot-1, 22-year-old is averaging 10.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 26 games.

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While the Knicks are hellbent on reaching greater heights in 2026, their captain wrapped up 2025 with yet another accolade bestowed on him by the NBA.

December was chock-full of dominance from superstar Jalen Brunson, who took home Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors on Friday. He's now a three-time recipient with the Knicks, embarking on a new calendar year with a record of 23-10, the fourth-best mark in the league.

Brunson naturally served as the Knicks' holiday season catalyst, averaging a laudable 30.6 points and 7.1 assists with a 40.5 shooting percentage from three across 14 games in December.

His knack for scoring and facilitating helped the Knicks win 10 of 14 games during the month, and following a 25-point performance in their win over the Spurs in the NBA Cup final, he received MVP honors for the in-season tournament.

So far this season, Brunson is averaging a career-high 29.4 points with 6.6 assists (30 games). The veteran All-Star has also been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week twice.