Warriors wax Kings to tip off post All-Star break run

Danny Emerman, The Mercury News on Feb 22, 2025

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Golden State Warriors started their march toward Draymond Green’s prophesied championship with one for the DVD.

In the first of what Golden State considers 27 playoff games to close out the season, the Warriors dismantled the Sacramento Kings, 132-106.

As the Kings tilted their defense toward Steph Curry, the Warriors’ role players stepped up. Moses Moody dropped a season-high 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting (including five 3s). Buddy Hield, who took out his braids and admitted he needed the rest over All-Star break, also poured in 22 on the same shooting splits. Brandin Podziemski added 21 points.

The Warriors (29-27) were in control almost the entire game, crushing Sacramento in the minutes Curry rested. Golden State went 20-for-43 (46.5%) from deep and scored 38 points off 24 Kings turnovers. They’re now 4-1 with Jimmy Butler, who registered 17 points and seven assists while snagging three steals.

Playing the rest of the season at a playoff-level intensity won’t be easy. Two months is a long time for that caliber of intensity.

But Friday night was a fast first step out of the sprinter’s starting blocks.

Early in the game, Curry ripped away a steal from Keegan Murray and attracted two defenders before dishing a no-look dime to Draymond Green. The Kings called a timeout. As Murray headed back to the bench, Curry barked in his direction.

No matter how hard they played, the Warriors still didn’t have an answer for DeRozan. The veteran torched them for 32 a month before and sensed the chinks in their armor.

DeRozan started 5-for-7, scoring 15 of Sacramento’s first 23 points. He made Gui Santos fall on a crossover and splashed three 3-pointers.

But he was the only King who showed up. Don’t let Domantas Sabonis’ double-double fool you.

A 10-point burst from Hield and seven steals from the Warriors nullified DeRozan’s early onslaught.

Hot shooting from Moody and Quinten Post stretched the Warriors’ lead to 16 as Curry took his scheduled rest to begin the second quarter. The Kings couldn’t get out of their own way, throwing the ball around, picking up a technical foul and setting an illegal screen.

Golden State hit 10 of its first 16 3-pointers and never cooled off. The Warriors got up 20 with Curry only taking two shots and Butler starting 1-for-6.

The Warriors picked apart Sacramento’s traps on Curry in a way they weren’t able to before they acquired Butler. He gives them a sharp safety valve and decision-maker who can spray to shooters on the perimeter or bully his way to the cup.

Sacramento threatened to come back in the third, but the Kings still couldn’t get enough stops. Steve Kerr pumped his fist after Moody converted a four-point play in the corner to put Golden State back up 13.

An inspired Green broke up a 3-on-1 and swatted another shot, chest-bumping teammates after Sacramento needed to call a timeout. Five more points from Curry — and an airplane arm celebration — forced Doug Christie to burn another, his team back down 20.

Post flexed his arms and screamed triumphantly after forcing a turnover. Butler sprinted back on defense like a maniac to blow up a transition chance. Even up 20, the Warriors swarmed and out-hustled the Kings.

They’re going to need to rise to that level 26 more times.