The Golden State Warriors continued their strong play since acquiring Jimmy Butler, cruising to a 132-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. Buddy Hield and Moses Moody led the way with 22 points each, while Brandin Podziemski added 21 and Stephen Curry contributed 20 as Golden State’s depth shined. The win marked the Warriors’ fourth in five games with Butler and pushed them two games above .500 for the first time since December.
Golden State set the tone early, catching fire from deep and hitting 11 of 23 three-pointers in the first half to build a 68-53 halftime lead. The Kings trimmed the deficit to nine midway through the third quarter, but the Warriors answered with an 11-0 run, highlighted by five straight points from Curry, to reestablish a 20-point cushion. Unlike their previous two matchups against Sacramento, where turnovers were an issue, the Warriors protected the ball well, committing just 12 giveaways.
With their offense clicking and defensive intensity rising, Golden State looks like a team finding its stride at the right time, keeping pace in the Western Conference playoff race.
Moses Moody: B+
Stats: 22 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 4 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 8-11 FG, 5-8 3PT, 1-1 FT, +16, 29 MIN
Moody had one of his most efficient scoring nights of the season, pouring in 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including five three-pointers. His confidence as a shooter was evident, spacing the floor well and knocking down big shots when needed. While he wasn’t a major factor on the glass, his four assists and overall energy helped keep the Warriors’ offense flowing. His two fouls were manageable, and his +16 plus/minus reflected his positive impact on the game.
Buddy Hield: B+
Stats: 22 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 8-11 FG, 5-8 3PT, 1-1 FT, +8, 26 MIN
Hield’s sharpshooting was on full display as he matched Moody’s 22 points, also hitting five three-pointers on just eight attempts. He played a disciplined offensive game, committing zero turnovers while finding his spots efficiently. Though his rebounding and playmaking numbers weren’t eye-popping, his presence as a perimeter threat opened up the floor for Golden State’s attack. His +8 plus/minus wasn’t as strong as some of his teammates, but he remained a steady force throughout the contest.
Brandin Podziemski: B+
Stats: 21 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 5 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 9-20 FG, 2-9 3PT, 1-1 FT, +21, 30 MIN
Podziemski played with his usual tenacity, contributing 21 points and five assists while leading the team with a +21 plus/minus. He showed some streaky shooting, going just 2-of-9 from beyond the arc, but his aggressiveness inside the arc (9-of-20 overall) helped keep the offense balanced. He also played solid perimeter defense, grabbing a steal and making smart decisions with the ball, despite one turnover. His all-around contributions continue to prove invaluable for the Warriors.
Stephen Curry: B+
Stats: 20 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 6 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 7-13 FG, 4-9 3PT, 2-2 FT, 0, 31 MIN
Curry had a smooth and efficient night, finishing with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting while knocking down four threes. Though not the primary offensive engine in this game, he picked his spots well and delivered when the Warriors needed a spark—especially during their third-quarter run. He also chipped in six assists and two steals, keeping the pace up and taking care of the ball with just one turnover. While not a dominant performance, it was a quintessential Curry game of controlled excellence.
Jimmy Butler III: B+
Stats: 17 PTS, 3 REB (2 OREB, 1 DREB), 7 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 5-10 FG, 0-1 3PT, 7-7 FT, +19, 32 MIN
Butler played a well-rounded game, showcasing his ability to impact both ends of the floor. He finished with 17 points and seven assists, orchestrating the offense smoothly and getting to the free-throw line seven times, converting all of them. His three steals highlighted his defensive effort, as he played passing lanes and disrupted Sacramento’s rhythm. With no turnovers or fouls, he provided a veteran-like presence, demonstrating why Golden State’s trade for him is paying off.
Draymond Green: B
Stats: 6 PTS, 8 REB (2 OREB, 6 DREB), 9 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 3-7 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +23, 28 MIN
Green was the glue guy as always, stuffing the stat sheet with six points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Though he wasn’t a major scoring threat, he directed the offense beautifully and played stout defense, recording two blocks. His ability to push the pace and facilitate was crucial in keeping the Warriors’ offense humming. His +23 plus/minus was the best on the team, further proving his importance even on nights when his scoring is minimal.
Quinten Post: C+
Stats: 9 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 0 PF, 3-5 FG, 3-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, +19, 14 MIN
In limited minutes, Post provided an efficient scoring spark, knocking down all three of his three-point attempts to finish with nine points. He also grabbed five rebounds and picked up a steal, showing some hustle on both ends of the floor. His three turnovers were a blemish, but his +19 plus/minus suggests he made a meaningful impact. It was a small sample, but he made the most of his time on the court.
Gary Payton II: C
Stats: 4 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 4 PF, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +3, 15 MIN
Payton played just 15 minutes and didn’t contribute much offensively, finishing with four points on two shot attempts. However, his defensive energy remained valuable, as he grabbed two steals and applied constant pressure on the Kings’ backcourt. His four fouls limited his playing time, but his presence helped set the defensive tone, even if the box score didn’t fully reflect his impact.
Kevon Looney: C
Stats: 2 PTS, 5 REB (2 OREB, 3 DREB), 1 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 1-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +1, 14 MIN
Looney struggled offensively, going just 1-of-5 from the field, but his presence on the boards was solid, grabbing five rebounds. Defensively, he was active, securing two steals, though he had some trouble keeping up with Sacramento’s quicker bigs. He also turned the ball over twice, which hurt his efficiency.
Gui Santos: C
Stats: 0 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PF, 0-3 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 13 MIN
Santos couldn’t find his shot, going 0-of-3 from the field, including two misses from beyond the arc. However, he contributed in other ways, grabbing three rebounds and dishing out three assists while playing decent perimeter defense. His four fouls in just 13 minutes limited his ability to stay on the floor, and his overall impact was fairly muted despite a +4 plus/minus.
Kevin Knox II: N/A
Stats: 5 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 2-3 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +2, 3 MIN
Knox saw just three minutes of action but made the most of it, scoring five points on 2-of-3 shooting, including a three-pointer. It was a brief stint, but he showed his ability to score quickly when given the opportunity.
Trayce Jackson-Davis: N/A
Stats: 4 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +2, 3 MIN
Like Knox, Jackson-Davis played only three minutes but managed to score four points on 2-of-2 shooting. His ability to finish around the rim was evident, though his limited minutes made it hard to gauge his full impact.
Pat Spencer: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +2, 3 MIN
Spencer didn’t score in his short appearance, missing his only shot attempt, but he did contribute two assists. With just three minutes on the floor, he didn’t have much of a chance to make a significant impact.
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