Warriors bury Kings with a 37-point second quarter in preseason tune-up
The Warriors broke a tied game open in the second quarter, outscoring Sacramento 37-31 to take a 61-56 halftime lead and held on, 111-106. Golden State shot 48.1% from the field and dominated the paint, 50-44, while Sacramento's Darius Acuff Jr. poured in a game-high 25 points in the loss. It's just preseason, so the result carries no bearing on either team's actual standing.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 7 d ago01The second quarter decided itSacramento and Golden State traded even first quarters, 25-24, and the game was still within a point.
Sacramento and Golden State traded even first quarters, 25-24, and the game was still within a point. Then the Warriors broke away, outscoring the Kings 37-31 in the second to lead 61-56 at the half. The Kings answered with a 25-25 third quarter to stay within striking distance, trailing 89-81 entering the fourth. Golden State's biggest lead of the night was only 10 points, and lead changes were even at 12 apiece, showing how close this one stayed even after the second-quarter swing. The Warriors closed it out 22-25 in the fourth to hold on for the 111-106 final.
02Lendeborg and Williams carry the WarriorsYaxel Lendeborg led Golden State with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting, adding 10 rebounds and 6 assists.
Yaxel Lendeborg led Golden State with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting, adding 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Brandon Williams came off the bench for 19 points on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three. Gui Santos added 15 points and Brandin Podziemski chipped in 14 points with 7 rebounds and 4 assists. For Sacramento, Darius Acuff Jr. was the night's top scorer with 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 4-of-6 from three, plus 8 assists. Jonathan Mogbo added 12 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals off the bench, and Zach LaVine scored 11.
03Won in the paint and on the breakGolden State shot 48.1% from the field compared to Sacramento's 41.8%, and out-scored the Kings in the paint, 50-44.
Golden State shot 48.1% from the field compared to Sacramento's 41.8%, and out-scored the Kings in the paint, 50-44. The Warriors also ran, scoring 17 fast-break points to Sacramento's 6. Both teams struggled from three — the Warriors hit 12-of-35, the Kings 10-of-30. Sacramento actually scored more points off turnovers, 25 to Golden State's 20, and recorded more steals, 15 to 10, but it wasn't enough to offset the Warriors' paint and transition edge. Golden State also turned the ball over more, 21 times to Sacramento's 17, but survived those mistakes thanks to its shooting efficiency.
04What it meansThis was a preseason game, so it has no effect on either team's actual record — both sides enter the regular season…
This was a preseason game, so it has no effect on either team's actual record — both sides enter the regular season at 0-0. For Golden State, the win came with contributions up and down the bench, with Williams, Santos and Georges Niang (13 points) all providing scoring punch. For Sacramento, Acuff Jr.'s 25-point, 8-assist outing is an encouraging preseason sign, even in a loss. Bench scoring was nearly even, 48 for the Warriors to 50 for the Kings, showing both rosters got meaningful depth minutes in this one.

