Podziemski Stars in In-Season Tournament Loss to Timberwolves

The Warriors led after three quarters but were outscored 28-18 in the final frame in their 104-101 In-Season Tournament loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Chase Center on Tuesday. The Dubs were without Stephen Curry due to injury and lost Draymond Green and Klay Thompson to ejection early in the first quarter. They drop to 1-1 in In-Season Tournament play, with the Minnesota Timberwolves remaining atop the West Group C standings at 2-0.

For the first time this season, the Warriors had two players score over 20 points — Brandin Podziemski and Dario Saric. Podziemski scored a career-high 23 points on 8-for-15 shooting and Saric added 21 points on 6-for-15 from the field.

COMPETING WITHOUT STAR TRIO
Stephen Curry missed his first game of the season on Tuesday due to right knee soreness. Curry led the Warriors in scoring for each of their first 11 games and led the NBA in total points scored (338 points). In the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, he took a hard fall following a double-clutch layup attempt. Rudy Gobert, guarding Curry on the play, fell on his knee/upper leg area. 

Less than two minutes into Tuesday's game, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were ejected after a scuffle involving Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, leaving the Dubs without their star trio for the remainder of the contest. 

PODZIEMSKI STEPS UP
Brandin Podziemski caught fire in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game, scoring eight points in under two minutes of action. On Tuesday, he picked up where he left off, scoring nine points in 10 minutes on 4-for-5 shooting in the opening frame. Podziemski subbed in for Klay Thompson following his ejection and the Dubs were a plus-10 with him on the floor in that period. 

Podziemski added eight points in the third quarter, including banking in a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to cap the stanza. Podziemski finished with 23 points and is one of three Warriors to score at least 20 points in a game this season, joining Stephen Curry and Dario Saric. He was also tied for second on the team in rebounds (seven) and first in assists (five).

PAUL AND SARIC GET THE START
Chris Paul and Dario Saric were inserted into the starting lineup on Tuesday, replacing Stephen Curry (injured) and Kevon Looney, who came off the bench. Paul and Saric have showcased their chemistry, which they built as teammates in Phoenix and have continued to develop in the Bay.

Without their star trio, Paul was a stabilizing force for the Dubs’ attack. He and Saric connected for the Warriors' first basket, with Paul finding his big for a right-wing splash. On the ensuing possession, Saric returned the favor with a drive and kick to Paul, who hit a deep fallaway jumper over Rudy Gobert's outstretched arms as the shot clock expired. Saric (11 points) and Paul (eight points) were the second and third leading scorers for the Warriors in the first half as they went into the locker room with a five-point lead (59-54).

 For the game, the tandem combined for 36 points, 21 for Saric and 15 for Paul. They also made their mark defensively with three steals from Paul and two by Saric.

PLAYOFF-LIKE ATMOSPHERE 
Facing the same opponent for the second consecutive game and the matchup having In-Season Tournament implications, this contest wasn't a typical regular-season game. On Tuesday, the Warriors debuted their new In-Season Tournament court and hosted their first-ever In-Season Tournament game at Chase Center. 

The Warriors and Timberwolves were both 1-0 in West Group C headed into Tuesday's matchup. Minnesota remained atop the group standings with the win, with the Warriors (1-1) staying in third behind the Timberwolves (2-0) and Sacramento Kings (1-0).

In addition to the tournament stakes, Head Coach Steve Kerr thinks the ability to play the same team so close together and make adjustments raises the game's intensity.

“Game two is a different feeling in a regular season game," Kerr said. "To be able to go over the tape, play the same team and make some adjustments, it's more playoff-like.”

UP NEXT 
The Warriors will play another two-game regular season miniseries, hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 5:30 p.m.