And-Ones: Golden, Warriors, World Cup, Hifi, Aspiration
Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports stated on his podcast earlier this week that the Warriors are expected to pursue Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden if Steve Kerr decides to step down, noting that Golden has an existing relationship with the Lacob family (Twitter video link). However, Golden told reporters on Wednesday that he has no plans to leave his current position.
“(I’m) definitely planning on coaching the Gators,” he said (Twitter video link).
Interestingly, Thomas Haugh‘s decision to return to the Gators for his senior year and continue playing under Golden was influenced by a conversation he had with Warriors forward Draymond Green. According to Mark Long of The Associated Press, Warriors rookie Will Richard, who played at Florida from 2022-25, arranged a conversation between his current teammate Green and his former teammate Haugh, who was viewed as a potential lottery pick if he had entered the 2026 draft.
“I think Draymond gave him great perspective on what life in the NBA is like and what life in college is like and how enjoyable it is,” Golden said. “And it allowed him to be like, ‘All right, the NBA, not sounding arrogant, but it will be there for him.’ It’s going to be there. And he only has one more opportunity to be at Florida. So they had a great conversation, and I think that got him kind of thinking.”
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- FIBA has officially announced the hosts for the 2030 and 2031 World Cups. The women’s basketball event in 2030 will take place in Tokyo, Japan, while the men’s tournament the following year will be held in France, with games played in Paris, Lyon, and Lille (Twitter links).
- Paris Basketball guard Nadir Hifi, who went undrafted in 2023, tells the French outlet Le Parisien that he’s interested in the possibility of signing with an NBA team this offseason, as Dario Skerletic of Sportando relays. Hifi, 23, won the EuroLeague Rising Star award in 2024/25 and was the EuroLeague’s third-leading scorer this season at 18.9 points per game.
- In advance of the sentencing of Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg, the NBA and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer both submitted letters to the federal judge overseeing the case, reports Baxter Holmes of ESPN. The attorney leading the league’s investigation into the Clippers’ relationship with Aspiration said Sanberg’s cooperation “substantially assisted our investigation, including our ability to develop a more complete understanding of key events,” whereas Ballmer’s attorney said the Clippers owner was “flagrantly defrauded” out of $60MM by Aspiration and requested that the judge’s sentence account for “the reputational damage that will take years to remediate.”
Warriors Notes: Kerr, Green, Podziemski, Horford
With another season in the books, a summer of uncertainty is on tap for the Warriors, who have a series of questions to answer in the coming weeks and months, including what the future holds for longtime head coach Steve Kerr.
Kerr is not under contract for next season. He signed a two-year extension in 2024, but now faces a team with a much murkier outlook. He recently said that he was unsure of his plans moving forward.
According to Nick Friedell and Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic, the odds are good that Kerr comes to an agreement with ownership to stick around, though Draymond Green recently expressed his doubts on the matter, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
“I hope he’s our coach next season,” Green said. “You want my opinion? I think not. Just because it feels like that. It felt like that was it.”
Kerr is expected to take the next week or two to make his decision, per Slater. According to Friedell (via Twitter), the sentiment from Golden State’s exit interviews was that the players hope Kerr will be on the sidelines next season.
Slater adds that the team is not interested in a “last dance” with this team and coach, but is looking to come back with a refreshed roster and wants a coach with the energy to match (Twitter video link).
We have more Warriors news:
- Green’s name appeared in trade rumors this season. That is unusual for his tenure in Golden State, but it could also be indicative of questions the Warriors are grappling with. Green has a $27MM player option for next season, and Friedell and Thompson write that the team is waiting to see what the former Defensive Player of the Year decides to do before they entertain the idea of trading him. It has been speculated that he is unlikely to test free agency, but the Warriors are light on tradable contracts, so if they want to change the roster, dealing Green would likely be the easiest way to do so. “I’ve never been so uncertain since earlier in my career in what happens next,” Green said, per Slater. “But I’m truly at a loss now because you don’t know what direction will be next. … I also hope I’m on this team next season. We also don’t know that. Man, if it was, what a run.” Discussing how long he hopes to keep playing on a recent podcast, Green said, “I feel great, and I just want to go until I’m done. I think for me, that’s probably another three years,” per Florito Maniego of NBC Sports Bay Area.
- Brandin Podziemski is hopeful that he’ll be able to get a rookie scale extension completed with the Warriors this summer, according to Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports. “I want to be here for the long term,” the 23-year-old guard said. “It’s always special having been the team that drafted you.” Friedell and Thompson indicate that there is a desire from the Warriors’ side to lock up Podziemski, despite a sometimes rocky relationship between the young player and the fanbase.
- After a somewhat disappointing season, Al Horford is going to take some time before deciding if he wants to pick up his player option to stay with the Warriors next season, Friedell reports (via Twitter), adding that the 39-year-old expects to play for at least one more year but isn’t certain that will happen. Horford averaged 8.3 points and 4.9 rebounds this season, both career lows.
Victor Wembanyama Named Defensive Player Of The Year
Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama has been named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for the 2025/26 season, the league announced on Monday (Twitter link). He’s the youngest player in league history to win the award, tweets Shams Charania of ESPN, and is the first player to win it in a unanimous vote, tweets Jared Weiss of The Athletic.
Wembanyama, who received all 100 first-place votes, led the NBA in total blocked shots (197) and blocks per game (3.1) by a significant margin and ranked second in defensive rebounds per game (11.5) despite playing just 29.2 minutes per night. His 28.5% defensive rebounding percentage was the highest mark in the league among qualified players.
The Spurs star also limited opponents to a 42.0% field goal percentage and anchored the NBA’s third-best defense. San Antonio allowed 103.6 points per 100 possessions when Wembanyama was on the court and gave up 113.7 points per 100 possessions when he sat.
Wembanyama was the favorite to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2024/25, but a blood clot prematurely ended his season in February, preventing him playing in the 65 games necessary to qualify for consideration. He missed some time this year due to health issues, but met the 65-game criteria during the final week of the regular season.
Thunder big man Chet Holmgren, who previously finished second in Rookie of the Year voting to Wembanyama in 2023/24, once again finished as the runner-up to his conference rival for a major award — he earned the second-most votes for Defensive Player of the Year, including 76 second-place votes and 11 for third place. Holmgren ranked second in the NBA in blocks per game (1.9) and was the primary interior presence on a Thunder team that had the league’s No. 1 defensive rating (106.5).
Pistons wing Ausar Thompson was the top Defensive Player of the Year vote-getter among perimeter players, coming in third behind Wembanyama and Holmgren with nine second-place votes and 33 third-place votes. Thompson ranked first in the NBA in steals per game (2.0) despite playing fewer minutes per contest (26.0) than the seven players who ranked right behind him in that category. Detroit was sandwiched between OKC and San Antonio with the league’s second-best defensive rating (108.9).
A total of 13 players showed up on at least one Defensive Player of the Year ballot, with Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert and Raptors forward Scottie Barnes rounding out the top five, in that order.
Celtics guard Derrick White, Thunder guard Cason Wallace, Rockets guard Amen Thompson, Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, and Knicks forward OG Anunoby each received multiple votes, while Pistons center Jalen Duren, Warriors forward Draymond Green, and Heat big man Bam Adebayo showed up on one ballot apiece.
The full results can be viewed here (via Twitter).
While Defensive Player of the Year honors can, in some cases, ensure that a player qualifies for a higher maximum salary on his next contract, that won’t be the case for Wembanyama despite the fact that he’ll likely sign a maximum-salary rookie extension with the Spurs during the coming offseason. The Rose Rule criteria will require him to win MVP or DPOY or simply earn an All-NBA spot in 2026/27 in order to qualify for a contract that starts at 30% of the ’27/28 cap (instead of 25%).
Kerr’s Decision Could Lead To Major Changes For Warriors
The Warriors could be embarking on an “organizational reset” if head coach Steve Kerr decides not to return, several team sources tell Ramona Shelburne and Anthony Slater of ESPN. That could involve significant changes to the roster and coaching staff as the team tries to find a new direction following a 37-45 season and an exit in the play-in tournament.
After Friday’s loss at Phoenix, Kerr indicated that he’ll take a week or two before deciding whether to continue coaching. Team sources tell Shelburne that timeline is respectful to Kerr while giving the organization enough time to address its coaching situation before moving on to roster decisions. The sources also state that staff and philosophy questions will be discussed if Kerr returns, as management believes the team has become too reliant on three-point variance and wants to see more diversification in the offense and a greater emphasis on winning the possession battle.
There are lingering concerns about the 13-15 start when the roster was mostly healthy, Shelburne adds. Late-game performance, turnover problems and a sub-.500 record during a season when so many opponents were tanking were also worrisome.
“We didn’t find it earlier in the season,” Kerr said after the team was eliminated. “We were blowing some games we should’ve closed out. I could’ve done a better job. But when Jimmy (Butler) got hurt, it felt like we were finding it.”
Sources tell Shelburne that a wide search is expected for Kerr’s successor if he opts for retirement. College coaches could be in the mix, although Shelburne cites concerns about pairing someone who has no NBA experience with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Butler as they move into the final stages of their careers.
Changes to the coaching staff are expected even if Kerr stays, per Shelburne. Long-time assistant Chris DeMarco has already left to become head coach of the WNBA’s New York Liberty, and sources tell Shelburne that former Pelicans head coach Willie Green could return to the Warriors to work under Kerr again.
When Kerr discusses his future with management, owner Joe Lacob will want him to exhibit a strong desire to handle the day-to-day responsibilities of the job rather than stay out of loyalty to Curry and Green, according to Shelburne’s sources. They add that Lacob will ask Kerr to sign a multiyear contract instead of returning for a brief farewell tour.
According to Shelburne, the Warriors remain committed to general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., despite some outside rumors that he may be a candidate to run Chicago’s front office. She reports that Dunleavy recently signed an extension without any fanfare and has multiple years remaining on the deal.
Shelburne also notes that if Golden State’s roster remains largely intact next season, there will still be the issue of having three players in their late 30s who take up nearly 80% of the payroll. Curry will be eligible for an extension of up to two years this summer and has already talked about wanting to keep playing for multiple seasons. Butler will become extension-eligible in February, which is about when he’s projected to return from an ACL tear. Shelburne hears that he’s expected to focus on getting healthy again and work out his future next summer.
Green has a $27.6MM player option for next season that he’s expected to either exercise or use as the basis to negotiate a longer deal. He was reportedly included in the Warriors’ offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo at the deadline and while there’s a still a chance he could be moved for a star, sources tell Shelburne there is “no desire or mandate” to trade Green.
Shelburne suggests that Golden State could make another offer to the Bucks this summer or try again for Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, who became a target in February after the Antetokounmpo deal fell through. She adds that LeBron James could also be a possibility in free agency if he decides to leave the Lakers.
Suns Notes: Green, Booker, Williams, Allen, Fleming, Brooks
Injuries prevented Jalen Green from contributing to the Suns for most of the season, but he made up for it with 36 points and eight three-pointers in Friday’s play-in victory over Golden State, writes Doug Haller of The Athletic. It was a satisfying performance for Green, who was limited to 32 regular season games, mostly due to a hamstring injury he suffered during training camp that led to a long and frustrating healing process.
“Getting injured in the first place, coming back,” he recalled. “Getting injured again, coming back. I think it happened like three or four times. It was hard.”
Green admitted that he enjoyed eliminating the Warriors, who defeated his Houston team in seven games last year in his first playoff appearance. Even so, he was grateful for a post-game chat with Stephen Curry, whom he credits for helping to develop his game, relays Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area.
“He was just telling me to handle business in OKC,” Green said. “Coming from Steph, it means a lot to chop it up with him and just hear from him at the end of the day, just because I was maybe 16 years old when he was having me come out to Oakland just to work out with him. So he’s kind of been somewhat of a mentor. I was able to get his number and reach out throughout these years. So he’s been kind of something like a mentor. And playing against him is always great. He’s one of the greatest shooters — greatest players of all time.”
There’s more from Phoenix:
- Devin Booker and Draymond Green both got tossed from Friday’s game after a prolonged shouting match late in the fourth quarter, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Booker downplayed the heated exchange in a post-game session with the media. “It’s nothing man,” he said. “I’ve been there before and I understand the situation. My big brother used to beat me in NBA Live back in the day and I’d throw a fit. He’s a competitor. He loves the sport.”
- Mark Williams (left foot soreness) and Grayson Allen (left hamstring) are listed as questionable for Sunday’s series opener at Oklahoma City, Rankin states in a separate story. Both players sat out Friday’s game, although Williams played 22 minutes in Tuesday’s play-in contest against Portland. Allen, who was injured on April 10, was on the active roster on Friday but wasn’t used.
- Rasheer Fleming looks like part of the Suns’ future after a promising rookie season, Rankin adds in another piece. Phoenix traded up to the top of the second round in last year’s draft to get Fleming, who made his first career start in the season finale and posted 16 points. “It’s been a great experience, honestly, on both ends,” he said. “For me to be able to watch and to be able to be on the floor throughout the season, it’s been great.”
- The Suns’ playoff appearance will result in a $1MM bonus for Dillon Brooks, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link). The bonus had been classified as unlikely because Phoenix didn’t qualify for the postseason last year.
Warriors Notes: Curry, Kerr, Draymond, Offseason
Two-time MVP Stephen Curry reflected on the past and looked forward to the future after the Warriors were eliminated from postseason contention on Friday night, according to Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic.
“Before you win the title,” Curry said, “… you’re building the foundation for what a championship team looks like — even though you have no idea what that really meant. Then you accomplish it, then everything else is based off of that. It’s been that way since 2015. I think we can reshape the narrative, knowing in the back of our mind that (a title) is an ultimate goal. But we have to get back to the basics of what makes a good basketball team, a competitive basketball team every single night. …
“Can we rethink how we do things with the foundation that we’ve established? We don’t have to keep saying ‘championship, championship, championship’ every day, even though we’ve experienced that. Can we build the foundation again with what this team needs to do, with the way that the game is played now, how fast it is, how young and athletic it is?”
Thompson’s story is largely centered on the uncertain future of Steve Kerr, who simultaneously sounded ready to continue coaching — under the right conditions — and ready to walk away from the job he’s held for 12 years. Curry admitted he wasn’t expecting Kerr to thank him and Draymond Green before the game ended.
“I was kind of fighting it, to be honest,” Curry said. “You’ve ended your season a lot of different ways, and you’ve had those moments on the sideline where you go up and down and thank everybody for what they poured into the year.
“But for it to start with that conversation and that moment, it was definitely weird. … I do appreciate the fact that he took that moment because, regardless, we’re human beings, and we have to be able to acknowledge each other in that moment.”
For what it’s worth, multiple sources in the team’s locker room tell Thompson they expect Kerr to be back next season, though Thompson readily acknowledges that decision will be Kerr’s to make.
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- As for Curry’s own future, he made it clear he wants to play at least two more seasons and is open to signing an extension this offseason, per Nick Friedell of The Athletic. The 38-year-old guard is entering the final year of his contract, which will pay him $62.6MM in 2026/27. “For sure,” Curry said. “But none of those conversations have happened. So it will be a busy summer for the Warriors.” The 17-year veteran also expressed optimism that his nagging right knee injury won’t bother him when next season rolls around, Friedell writes.
- Draymond Green, who controls a $27.7MM player option for next season, sounded a little more uncertain about what could be in store for him going forward, Friedell adds in the same piece. The former Defensive Player of the Year reiterated he wants to stay with the only team he’s ever known — if Golden State wants him around. “I don’t know,” Green replied when asked about his future. “I’m not retiring from basketball, though. I still love to play and I think I’m still pretty decent. But this league we’re in, it’s an interesting one. And it’s one that you don’t really control everything, so for me, I hope I’ve done enough to still be here. Because at the end of the day, if I ain’t done enough I don’t want to be here.”
- Bobby Marks of ESPN previews the Warriors’ offseason, writing that the team projects to be under the luxury tax in ’26/27 for the first time since ’19/20. A potential rookie scale extension for third-year guard Brandin Podziemski will be among the many decisions Golden State’s front office will face this summer, Marks notes.
Kerr Uncertain Whether He’ll Remain Warriors’ Coach
Steve Kerr isn’t sure if he’ll be coaching the Warriors next season. He is certain he won’t be coaching any other NBA team.
Golden State’s longtime head coach discussed his uncertain future after the Warriors were eliminated from postseason contention following Friday’s play-in loss in Phoenix.
There’s been plenty of speculation regarding Kerr, whose contract expired with the end of the Warriors’ season. The situation won’t be resolved immediately, as Kerr plans to take a week or two to gather his thoughts before meeting with controlling owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. regarding a new contract.
“We’ll talk about what’s next for the Warriors, what the plan is this offseason,” Kerr said, per The Associated Press. “And we will come to a collaborative decision on what’s next. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I still love coaching. But I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date.
“There’s a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas and all that. And, if that’s the case, then I will be just nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise, in front of our fans in the Bay and to coach Steph Curry, to coach (Draymond Green) and the whole group.”
Kerr has been the Warriors’ coach for 12 seasons. He has won four championships with Curry Green and Green leading the way.
Both of them are hoping Kerr will be back for a 13th season and beyond. Each player has one year remaining on his contract, though Green could become a free agent if he declines his $27.7MM player option.
“I want Coach to be happy. I want him to be excited about the job. I want him to believe you know he’s the right guy for the job,” Curry said. “I want him to have an opportunity to again enjoy what he does. So, whatever that means for him, you know, everybody’s plan is their own. And I’m not going to try to tell anybody what to do. He knows how I feel about him. That shouldn’t even need to be said.”
“I just don’t deal with change well,” Green said. “I don’t love it. So, I don’t want to think about that. I hope that’s not the case. but we’ll see what happens.”
Before the game ended, Kerr hugged both players and stated, “I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I love you guys to death. Thank you.”
Kerr indicated that coaching Curry the remainder of the Hall of Fame guard’s career is a consideration.
“That’s part of the equation,” Kerr said, per Anthony Slater of ESPN. “I don’t want to walk away from Steph. I’m definitely not going and coaching somewhere else next year in the NBA. I would never walk away from Steph. But all this stuff has to be aligned and right. Those are all discussions that will be had.”
Warriors Notes: Curry, Green, Horford, Porzingis, Kerr, Payton
Vintage performances from Stephen Curry and Draymond Green sparked the Warriors to a comeback victory in Wednesday’s elimination game against the Clippers, writes Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. As Anthony Slater of ESPN details, Golden State trailed by as many as 13 points with under 10 minutes remaining, but clutch shots from Curry — and clutch defense from Green — led the team to a play-in win.
“We came back every single time they made a run,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “An incredible display of guts and competitiveness and connection. Then obviously Steph and Dray took over down the stretch. Draymond is the best defender I’ve ever seen in my life.”
According to Slater, Green prevented Kawhi Leonard (21 points on 8-of-17 shooting, five turnovers) from attempting a field goal in the 12 half-court possessions he defended the Clippers star in the fourth quarter. Green sealed the victory with two steals in the final minute — one on on inbound pass which led to an and-one for Brandin Podziemski, and the other a clean strip of Leonard when the Clips were down six and desperate to score.
“They had a great game plan,” Leonard said, per Thompson. “Just being physical all game. Making sure I don’t get catch-and-shoot shots. Blasting every pick and roll. … And then, you know, Draymond, Hall of Fame defender. So, yeah, it was hard to even get shots off.”
Green has long relished the chance to compete against — and beat — the best players in the league, notes Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.
“There will never be a person that I would want to prove more to than myself,” said Green. “The same people that say I lost a step said I never had a step. They’re the same people that said I would never make it and I should be out the NBA and I ride a coattail. And the list goes on and on. Those are the same people. So ultimately, when you step on the floor, this is competition. You want to be your best.”
Here’s more on the Warriors, who will play at Phoenix on Friday to determine the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference:
- Curry shook off a rough first half (eight points on 2-of-9 shooting) and to deliver a sublime final two quarters, scoring 27 points (on 10-of-14 shooting) and dishing out four assists after halftime. The 38-year-old star showed why he was determined to return this season after a persistent right knee injury caused him to miss 27 consecutive games, as Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area writes. “This is why Steph came back,” Kerr told reporters in Inglewood. “So, everybody out there who thought Steph should have taken the rest of the year off, this is what he does! This is who he is! If he can compete, he’s going to compete. And it was just incredible to watch.”
- Curry and Green had plenty of help to win Wednesday’s game, with Gui Santos (20 points, six rebounds, five assists), Kristaps Porzingis (20 points, five rebounds five assists, two blocks) and Al Horford all delivering in key moments. Horford’s contributions may have been the most unexpected, per Nick Friedell of The Athletic — the veteran big man was 0-for-3 from three-point range entering the fourth quarter, then converted all four of his attempts down the stretch. “Steph was in my ear,” said Horford, who returned to action from a calf strain with two games left in the regular season. “Draymond was in my ear the whole time, giving me that confidence and letting me know that I do that, that I’m capable of (that). And for me, that was a special moment that I shared with them there, and with our season on the line, it was pretty fitting.”
- Porzingis is listed as questionable for Friday’s game due to right ankle soreness (Twitter link via Slater). The impending free agent center was “limping a bit” after Wednesday’s victory, Slater writes.
- According to Slater (Twitter video link), Kerr isn’t expected to make a decision about his coaching future in the immediate aftermath of whenever the Warriors’ season comes to an end. For what it’s worth, Golden State’s longtime coach, who is on expiring contract, was euphoric after Wednesday’s win. “There’s a reason we have four championships,” Kerr said, per Slater. “With all the wins we’ve ever had here — a lot of them with a lot more at stake — this is right up there. Just because of where we are and our age and the decline of our performance this year and our injuries. It was just a beautiful display of competitive will.”
- In an interview with Mark Medina of RG.org, Gary Payton II discusses playing with Curry and Green and the news that Seattle is being considered for an expansion team. Payton, the son of SuperSonics legend Gary Payton, was born in the Emerald City. “It’s about time. Hopefully, I can get there before my career is over and put on a Sonics jersey,” the younger Payton said. “We’ll see how it plays out. But if not, it’ll be good to go up there and see some games.”
Warriors Notes: Kerr, Curry, Porzingis, Horford, Green
There’s still no clarity on Steve Kerr‘s future with the Warriors, Nick Friedell of The Athletic reports. Kerr has put off talk of another contract until after the season.
A team source told Friedell that nothing had changed in that regard. Kerr signed a two-year, $35MM extension in 2024 that expires after this season. Golden State, seeded 10th, needs to win two games to advance through the play-in tournament.
However, Kerr’s preference is to stay put. He’d like to continue to coach the Warriors and Stephen Curry despite a very trying season. Draymond Green says the front office and ownership won’t find a better coach than the one they already have.
“I think oftentimes in this league, everybody is always looking at the other side thinking it’s greener,” Green said, per Florito Maniego of NBC Sports Bay Area. “Then, when they get on the other side, they realize all the grass is brown, and it’s dead. And there’s no sprinkler system, and the sun doesn’t rise on that side, it only sets on that side. Then, everybody wants to look back, like, ‘Oh, man.’ Now you start this cycle of [hiring] four coaches in four years. You start this cycle of six coaches over eight years.
“The Warriors have been through that cycle, and nobody is trying to go through that again. So, as long as we have Steve Kerr wanting to coach this team, you’re not going to go and find a better coach, so that’s not a worry of mine or anybody in this organization.”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- They are in a do-or-die situation in Wednesday’s play-in tournament contest with the Clippers. However, Kerr must remain mindful of how much he can use some of his regulars. Curry, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford will all play fewer than 40 minutes in the must-win game, according to ESPN. All three missed chunks of time during the second half of the season due to injuries or illness. ESPN’s Anthony Slater (Twitter link) notes that Curry has played 26, 25, 27 and 29 minutes in his four games back from his knee injury. Slater projects that something in the range of 34 minutes will likely be Curry’s cap on Wednesday.
- Curry remains optimistic that the Warriors can extend their season, according to Janie McCauley of The Associated Press. “I love playing basketball,” he said. “It’s what I get paid to do. … Our season’s been different than we expected, but the fact that there is something to still play for gives all of us a lot of confidence down the stretch to make something out it, and I want to be a part of that.”
- Green may not be the defensive force he once was, but he’s still the team’s anchor in that department, Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic notes. Green appeared in 68 games and was a steadying influence on a team often playing shorthanded. “You gotta be locked in, number one,” he said. “I think these will be very detailed game plans. The guys you want shooting, you’ve got to have them shooting. You’ve gotta stay locked in on your defensive responsibility. You can’t have defensive lapses. There’s just no space for defensive lapses in playoff games, man. So I think it’s a matter of everybody understanding what the game plan is and accomplishing it.”
Pacific Notes: Green, Clippers, Allen, Williams
The Warriors lost Friday night at Sacramento, but they delivered a dominant performance in the third quarter that gives coach Steve Kerr some hope heading into the play-in tournament, writes Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. Golden State won the quarter by a 38-19 margin and held a seven-point lead before Kerr rested most of his rotation players down the stretch in the meaningless game.
After Draymond Green said earlier this week that it’s hard to get excited about the play-in, Kerr challenged his veteran leader to do a better job of inspiring the team. Green’s trademark aggressiveness returned on Friday, leading to big plays on both ends of the court and a few skirmishes.
“We were not good defensively,” Kerr said. “We had one good stretch in the game, third quarter. I thought we set a tone defensively. Obviously, Draymond got things stirred up a little bit. We needed that, that fire, that edge.”
Trailing by 12 points at intermission, the Warriors got back into the game with a 12-2 run early in the second half. They held the Kings to 1-of-9 shooting during that stretch and Green goaded Devin Carter into a Flagrant 1 foul that turned up the intensity. Green got into a shoving match with Maxime Raynaud, then Gary Payton II picked up a Flagrant 1 of his own for an aggressive screen on Carter. He was later whistled for a technical for throwing the ball at Carter.
The exchanges brought some life to a team that has been through a difficult second half of the season.
“I mean, I was just laughing at a lot of it, pretty funny stuff going out there,” Brandin Podziemski said. “Everyone was just kind of having fun with the game.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- After falling to Portland on Friday, the Clippers need to beat Golden State in the season finale to have any hope of moving up to the No. 8 seed, notes Janis Carr of The Orange County Register (subscription required). L.A. fell into an early 20-point deficit against the Blazers, but rallied to take the lead before collapsing late in the game. Now the team will need help to avoid starting the postseason on the brink of elimination. “I mean, we just got to do it the Clippers’ way, the hard way every time. Never easy,” coach Tyronn Lue said. “We are still in it and we’re OK. And like I said, they beat us. They’re a good team and Tiago (Splitter, Portland’s interim coach) has done a hell of a job this season filling in. They played better than us.”
- Suns guard Grayson Allen was forced out of Friday’s game against the Lakers after hurting his hamstring in the second quarter, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The injury occurred when he landed after making a difficult shot over L.A. center Deandre Ayton. Allen has been ruled out of Sunday’s game, Rankin adds in a separate story, along with Devin Booker (right ankle injury management), Dillon Brooks (left second metacarpal injury management) and Royce O’Neale (left knee injury management).
- In an interview posted on the Arizona Republic website, Suns center Mark Williams talks about enjoying the healthiest season of his career. He was available for 60 games, topping his previous high of 44.