The Warriors’ fourth preseason game on Saturday against the Kings brings a few things into focus, and one of the biggest is how Yaxel Lendeborg responds after his breakout showing on Tuesday.
The rookie was quiet in his preseason opener, then turned heads against the Lakers with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and nine rebounds in 21 minutes. That kind of aggressive offensive play is exactly what Steve Kerr wanted to see. The catch is that Sacramento should provide a sturdier test than the Lakers’ B team did, even if the Kings themselves are projected to be one of the league’s weaker defensive groups.
If Keegan Murray can’t play, Sacramento is expected to start De'Andre Hunter and Precious Achiuwa at the forward spots. Both bring size and enough defensive bite to make life harder on Lendeborg when he tries to use his strength inside.
Another major subplot centers on Brandin Podziemski, who got a five-year, $110 million extension on Saturday. Podziemski does plenty of things well, and there’s a case that he deserves the money.
But the real question is whether his point-of-attack defense holds up next to Stephen Curry. Curry has usually been at his best alongside guards and wings who can take on that assignment, and Podziemski is not the cleanest fit in that role.
That issue could show up right away against Sacramento’s backcourt. Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 pick in the 2026 draft, has averaged 15.5 points per game in his first two preseason outings, while Zach LaVine averaged 19.2 points per game last season.
If the Warriors open with Curry and Podziemski on Acuff and LaVine, the pressure will be immediate. If they don’t, the questions about the extension will start quickly.
There’s also the matter of the Warriors’ cold-shooting veterans. Al Horford, De'Anthony Melton and Georges Niang have combined to make just three of their 16 preseason threes. Horford is shooting 20 percent from deep, Melton 27.3 percent and Niang 28.6 percent.
It’s far too early to panic, but the Warriors would like to see that group find a rhythm. Horford opened last season by shooting just 29.8 percent from three over his first 13 games, Melton shot 29.4 percent from deep for the season, and Niang missed the entire 2025-26 season with a foot injury.
Niang is the best shooter of the three, and he may be the one who most needs to hit shots to provide value. Melton and Horford can still contribute in other ways because of what they bring defensively.
In Other News...
Warriors Just Made A Podziemski Move That Helps Steph Curry Too
Brandin Podziemskis rise has given the Warriors another important young piece to build around, and now the front office has moved quickly to keep him in place. Golden State and the guard have agreed to a contract extension that locks him in before he could have reached restricted free agency next summer, a clear sign the team sees him as part of its long-term core alongside Steph Curry.
Beyond the roster fit, the timing matters for Golden States bigger planning. A fully guaranteed deal gives the Warriors more certainty while preserving flexibility for future moves, and it helps keep the franchises options open as it tries to balance Currys window with the next phase of the roster. Podziemskis extension may not be the loudest headline of the offseason, but it is the kind of move that can shape everything that comes after. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Preseason Game Sparked A Scary Kings Injury Concern
A preseason matchup between the Warriors and Kings briefly turned alarming when Sacramento forward Maxime Raynaud went down with a knee injury and had to be taken off the court in a wheelchair. The play cast an immediate shadow over a game that was otherwise still in exhibition mode, with teammates and opponents alike left waiting for word on just how serious it might be.
The early concern eased when the Kings said Raynaud avoided a major knee injury, and support quickly poured in from teammates including Ben Simmons and Darius Acuff Jr. Sacramento will still have to manage the next stretch carefully, with Raynaud due to be re-evaluated in about two weeks as the team gets a clearer sense of his recovery. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Suddenly Face A Kristaps Porzingis Concern They Can't Ignore
Kristaps Porzingis has been away from Warriors training camp because of an undisclosed health issue, leaving the team without a clear sense of when he might be back. For a group trying to settle into the early rhythm of camp, his absence has become one of the more notable off-court stories, especially because Golden State has offered little beyond the basic acknowledgment that he is dealing with a health matter.
Steve Kerr has said the organization is concerned and is backing Porzingis with medical and emotional support, while Draymond Green has also expressed support for him as he recovers. The Warriors have not said more about the nature of the issue, and with no timetable in place, the uncertainty lingers as camp continues without one of the teams most intriguing presence. [Read more 🡒]