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Will Richard's 30-point game serves as silver lining in Warriors' loss to Kings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – Steve Kerr tried to find a pregame silver lining to Wednesday’s game at Golden 1 Center, noting that the Warriors missing their three best players offered a chance for the coach to get an extended look at different combinations and some of Golden State’s younger players.

Will Richard was exactly what Kerr was hoping to see.

Making his first NBA start, the Warriors rookie put on the type of show that should have fans licking their lips in anticipation of what the future potentially holds for the 22-year-old from Georgia.

There was plenty to like, too.

Richard dropped a season-high 30 points on the Sacramento Kings in the Warriors’ 121-116 loss on Thursday at Golden 1 Center with five 3-pointers to move into rarefied air.

He became the first Warriors player drafted in the second round or later to score 20 or more points in his first career start since Eric Paschall in 2019. He also matched the second-most points scored by a Warriors player in his first career start with the Warriors. John Lucas also had 30, while Anthony Morrow has the record with 37 points.

All of those stats are pleasing to the eye, but it was the way Richard played that was most pleasant to watch. He played steady, albeit unspectacular, defense and had one steal – something he has done in each of his first six NBA games.

Richard shot 10 of 15 (5 of 8 on 3-pointers), snatched seven rebounds and had three assists.

This all came after being a healthy scratch due to coach’s decision in each of Golden State’s previous two games.

“Will was amazing,” Kerr said. “This guy, from the beginning of camp, has shown he’s an NBA player. The experience, the poise, he doesn’t turn it over, he makes the right play. He can handle the ball under pressure, he makes the right pass.

“This guy’s a hell of a player.”

That clearly was evident against the Kings.

After Sacramento pulled within 72-71 midway through the third quarter, Richard made a clutch 3-pointer but missed a shot at the four-point play when he shanked the free throw.

Richard made a pair of deep threes in the fourth quarter, but by then, the Kings had grabbed momentum and the Warriors spent the rest of the evening trying to catch up.

“Just trying to keep it simple but make an impact on the game,” Richard said. “I’m a big believer in controlling what you can control. Whatever role I’m in, I want to do whatever it takes to help the team win. Whether playing or not playing, I just want to see us win.”

While the Warriors failed to get the win, they head back home to the Bay with a much better vision of who Richard can be.

“Will is a great player,” Jonathan Kuminga said. “I’m always trying to talk to Will, especially as a rookie. There’s a lot of expectations, there’s a lot of eyes on you.”

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Even in loss, Jonathan Kuminga shows he can carry load with Warriors' stars out originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – For one night at least, Jonathan Kuminga had the type of game that Warriors fans have been expecting ever since he entered the NBA as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Kuminga put together a very respectable stat line in the Warriors’ 121-116 loss to the Kings at Golden 1 Center – 24 points and game-high-tying nine rebounds in 25 minutes – but it was the way the night went down that stood out most.

The Warriors were without their three best players and needed someone, anyone, to step up and take over.

Kuminga pretty much did just that for most of the evening. Like his Golden State teammates, though, everything went haywire in the fourth quarter.

Until then, however, Kuminga was all that and a bowl of grits.

“Jonathan attacked, he was aggressive,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We got him the ball quite a bit. He helped us get off to a great start. Really gave a fantastic effort.”

The best part was that there was no indication beforehand that Kuminga would have this type of night.

It came 24 hours after a dreadful showing in a win over the Phoenix Suns when Kuminga had nine points in just over 24 minutes. Three nights before that, Kuminga had 17 points and five rebounds but was minus-20 in a road loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Additionally, the Warriors played without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, who are all nursing injuries or sickness.

That put more pressure on the Warriors’ other players to pick up the slack, though Kuminga claimed nothing changed in his mind.

“My mindset is always the same no matter (with or without) Steph, Jimmy and Draymond,” Kuminga said. “Every time I play with them they want me to be aggressive. My mindset is always the same. Just come in, find a way to win.”

Kuminga did all of that except for getting the W, something Kerr said was part of a team-wide issue.

“The lesson for him and for our team is just how important every possession is,” said Kerr, whose squad committed 19 turnovers leading to 30 points for the Kings.

For Kuminga, however, the game was another important step forward in his NBA evolution.

“I think we came out with great energy,” said Kuminga after notching his third 20-point game of the season. “In the third quarter, we just started turning the ball over. That took the energy out of all of us. We just gotta find a way to execute certain plays.”

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What we learned as Russell Westbrook's triple-double fuels Kings' thrilling win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – The Kings kicked off their five-game homestand on the right foot, as a late rally allowed them to defeat the Golden State Warriors by a final score of 121-116 on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center.

A vintage Russell Westbrook masterclass helped the short-handed Kings stay alive against their NorCal neighbors, as the new Kings point guard finished with a 23-16-10 triple-double.

Malik Monk’s return was a welcome sight after missing the last two games. He added 21 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Rookie Nique Clifford had a career-high 12 points.

Without Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, Golden State’s role players stepped up behind a demanding performance from rookie guard Will Richard, who finished with a team-high 30 points, six rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes.

Jonathan Kuminga, who was tied to trade rumors with the Kings this offseason, somehow proved his value to both Sacramento and Golden State in the same game. The high-flying wing contributed 24 points.

Even without some of the game’s biggest and most entertaining stars, both teams still put on a thrilling show in front of a crowd divided by fans of both teams inside Sacramento’s home arena.

The Warriors regained the lead midway through the fourth after a 12-2 run, but only for a few seconds before the Kings responded with their own run to close out the game and ultimately pull out the victory.

Here are the takeaways from the Kings’ win.

The Triple-Double King

The Kings signed Westbrook for his energy, rebounding ability and veteran leadership.

All things that were on full display for Sacramento on Wednesday night.

Westbrook, like most Kings, got off to a slow start but quickly found his rhythm. And that’s all it takes for the future Hall of Famer.

The 18-year pro had just five points in the first quarter, then was on triple-double watch by the third. He finished with his first triple-double as a King, with 23 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in 35 minutes. His last triple-double was recorded on March 18, 2025, when he was with the Denver Nuggets, against the Golden State Warriors.

Sacramento doesn’t need Westbrook, who turns 37 next week, to drop 20-plus every night. But when short-handed like the Kings were Thursday, missing three of their typical starters, Westbrook rose to the occasion and vintage Russ took over.

Through seven games (three starts) with the Kings thus far, Westbrook is averaging 13.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

Shining without the stars

Fans who purchased tickets to this game months ago might have been upset when they realized several stars on both sides were ruled out.

But they got their money’s worth during the thrilling NorCal showdown.

Golden State was without its triple-threat trio of Curry (illness), Butler (back) and Green (rib). Meanwhile, Zach LaVine (back) and Domantas Sabonis (ribs) were ruled out for Sacramento, and Keegan Murray (thumb) still is rehabbing from his UCL surgery.

But with absences come opportunities for others, and some take advantage of it more than others. Richard, the rookie who’s played just six NBA games, did exactly that for the Warriors. The second-round draft pick finished with a team-high 28 points, six rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes.

For the Kings, the vets acted like vets as DeRozan, Westbrook and Schroder, who share a combined 45 years of NBA experience, stepped up for Sacramento.

The show went on Wednesday night, and it didn’t disappoint.

A needed boost 

Monk has been Sacramento’s Energizer Bunny for the past four seasons.

When he’s on the floor, you feel his presence. The fans embrace it. The team thrives off it.

And when he’s not, you feel that, too.

Monk missed the last two games for Sacramento due to personal reasons. In those respective contests, which the Kings split 1-1, Sacramento often lacked the energy that Monk provides.

The 27-year-old returned to the court on Wednesday and didn’t miss a beat with what he does best. In an arena taken over by Warriors fans who didn’t have to travel far to watch their favorite team, Monk gave Kings fans a reason to outshout them throughout the course of the NorCal showdown. 

15.6 points on 54.7 percent shooting from the field and 52 percent from 3-point range, with 1.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 25.2 minutes through five games this season.

Monk led all bench players on Wednesday, finishing with 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting, with four rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes.

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What we learned as short-handed Warriors squad stumbles in second half vs. Kings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• BOX SCORE

The number of players missing the first matchup of the 2025-26 NBA season between the Warriors and Sacramento Kings made the vibe feel closer to a Santa Cruz vs. Stockton G League game than two Northern California rivals battling each other Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center. 

As the game progressed, though, so did the intensity. And inexperience eventually caught up to the Warriors in a 121-116 loss playing a Kings team that still featured two future Hall of Famers in their starting five. 

The Kings were in the bonus with nearly nine minutes left in the third quarter, and went 14 of 18 from the free-throw line for the quarter after taking nine free throws in the first half. The Warriors in the third quarter were outscored 35-23, due in large part to having eight turnovers and being whistled for 11 fouls. While they scratched and clawed their way back in the fourth quarter, it was too little and too late for the undermanned Warriors.

Rookie Will Richard scored a game-high 30 points for a new career high that fell just four points of his previous career total of 34 points. Moses Moody, one night after scoring a season-high 24 points, scored a new season-high 28 points with six 3-pointers. Jonathan Kuminga fell one rebound shy of a double-double with 24 points and nine rebounds.

An ugly number of 19 Warriors turnovers became 30 points for the Kings. 

Steph Curry (illness), Jimmy Butler (lower back) and Draymond Green (ribs) all were out for the Warriors. The Kings were down Domantas Sabonis (ribs), Zach LaVine (back) and Keegan Murray (left thumb surgery).

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ loss to the Kings.

Second Timeline Starting Lineup

Without their top three players, the Warriors’ starters featured a rookie, a second-year player, a third-year player and two 23-year-olds. Hello there, second timeline. The future, for at least one night, is now.

You’d have to go all the way back to the finale of the 2011-12 regular season to find the last time all five starters had four or fewer years of service time.

The starting lineup hadn’t played a single second together this season as a five-man unit, yet they looked completely comfortable to begin the game. The Warriors led 16-11 through the first five minutes of the game before Al Horford replaced Quinten Post ahead of Will Richard’s second free throw. The ball was moving, and the youth was bringing the kind of spark coach Steve Kerr was searching for to survive and advance a shorthanded second night of a back-to-back.

In the first half, the young starting five scored 48 of the Warriors’ 62 points. The only starter held scoreless was Post, who took only one shot in eight minutes.

Post continued to struggle in the second half, too. The stretch-5 missed all five of his shot attempts and was scoreless in 15 minutes. The starting five played 10 and a half minutes together as a unit and was a plus-5, outscoring the Kings 30-25.

The Rook Shines

Here’s how Richard’s last three days have gone: Sent to Santa Cruz for his first G League practice Monday, recalled Tuesday but was a DNP-CD (Did Not Play, Coach’s Decision) and then received his first start in the NBA on Wednesday. He was a DNP-CD on Sunday against the Indiana Pacers, too. No rust or nerves were seen from the Warriors rookie. 

Richard in the first quarter alone scored 12 points, five more than his previous career high for a game. The former Florida Gator knocked down two threes from the left corner, made all four of his free throws and threw down a fastbreak dunk. He scored another four points in the second quarter, giving him 16 at the half.

The impressiveness of Richard’s performance popped in every which way. Richard scored another 14 points in the second half, and the Warriors wouldn’t even have had a chance if it weren’t for his two-way impact.

When the Warriors are at full strength, especially after De’Anthony Melton’s return, Richard might not have a spot in the rotation. However, he always makes it hard for Kerr not to play him.

Kuminga’s Showcase Game 

Schedule makers haven’t been kind to the Warriors through the first two weeks of the season. They also brought some unintentional drama to their third back-to-back. 

The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings were the two teams that pursued Kuminga the hardest during his restricted free agency over the summer. Though he eventually signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract with a team option on the second year to remain with the Warriors, the Suns offered Kuminga a four-year deal around $90 million and the Kings put a three-year deal on the table worth $63 million with the chance for it to be slightly more. 

Both contracts had Kuminga’s preferred player option on the back end. 

Kuminga on Tuesday night against the Suns scored nine points on a season-low seven shot attempts. But a much bigger opportunity was presented to him in Sacramento. With eight minutes remaining in the third quarter, Kuminga already had his third 20-point game of the season. His 24 points were a mixed bag of good and bad.

After a strong start, Kuminga went 2 of 10 in the second half and clanked an open chance from 10 feet away to tie the game with 24 seconds left. Kuminga was called for four fouls in the second half and he again racked up far too many turnovers, finishing with five for a combined nine in the Warriors’ back-to-back.

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