Podziemski giving Warriors needed intensity bump since return

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Podziemski giving Warriors needed intensity bump since return originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – With the Warriors stumbling in circles over the past couple months, it is apparent they need some assistance. Maybe it starts with someone willing to grab them and try to pull them from the Western Conference swamp.

The youngest among them is impetuous enough to embrace the job.

Brandin Podziemski, who turns 22 next month, brought a conspicuous and contagious energy Tuesday night. Urgent in his movements and emphatic in his instructions, he came off the bench and lit the fuse that sent the Warriors to a 114-103 victory over a diluted version of the rebuilding Utah Jazz.

On a night when Dennis Schröder overcame an injury scare to submit his most productive game as a Warrior – team-high 23 points, five rebounds, four assists – it was Podziemski’s effervescent presence that roused Golden State into action.

“Brandin looks really strong and sharp and determined,” coach Steve Kerr said. “He was fantastic tonight. It’s exciting to see. It’s what he expected from the start this season, and obviously things started slowly for him. But he’s really looking like himself now.”

With Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga sidelined, the Warriors moseyed through the first six minutes, allowing the Jazz to build a seven-point lead. That’s when Kerr turned to his bench, summoning Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II and Podziemski.

The change in energy and effectiveness was immediate. Utah, on pace to drop 40 points in 12 minutes, suddenly looked every bit like a team missing four of its top six scorers. It took less than four minutes for a Podziemski 3-pointer to give the Warriors their first lead.

Podziemski’s fingerprints were all over a sizzling nine minutes spanning the first and second quarters when the Warriors asserted themselves. They outscored the Jazz 20-4 during that stretch, with him either scoring or assisting on 14 of those 20 points.

For his 33 minutes, Podziemski posted a plus-19 while producing 20 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field, including 4 of 11 from beyond…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/podziemski-giving-warriors-needed-intensity-225409629.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2025-01-28 22:54:00

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