Warriors Falter Without Stars in Sacramento
The Golden State Warriors held a lead for much of the first half despite missing Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler. Inside the Golden1 Center on Wednesday, the absence of their stars ultimately proved costly as they fell to the Sacramento Kings 121–116.
Missing Leaders on the Sidelines
Stephen Curry joined the pregame huddle virtually via FaceTime, Draymond Green adopted a coaching role in a navy sweatsuit, and Jimmy Butler was absent from the arena. Their lack of presence left Golden State without key leadership both on and off the floor.
Strong Start, Fading Finish
Golden State opened with intensity, jumping to a double-digit lead before halftime. However, the team couldn’t sustain its energy and watched its advantage evaporate in the second half against a Kings squad also missing stars Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine.
“It was an amazing effort by our guys, and it should be a learning experience for our group,” said coach Steve Kerr after the close loss.
Individual Performances
- Will Richard led all scorers with 30 points in his first career start.
- Moses Moody recorded a personal best of 28 points.
- Jonathan Kuminga added 24 points and nine rebounds.
Despite their efforts, they were outmatched by Russell Westbrook’s triple-double performance of 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, supported by five other Kings players scoring in double figures.
Author’s Summary
Golden State impressed early but couldn’t maintain momentum, falling to Sacramento as the absence of their top players proved decisive.