Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski Exits Game with Back Injury

NEW YORK — Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski exited Thursday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets after just 45 seconds due to lower back soreness, the team announced.

Podziemski, 22, sustained the injury while defending Nets guard Cam Thomas. After briefly playing through the discomfort, he signaled to head coach Steve Kerr for a substitution and walked directly to the locker room. He later returned to the bench but was ultimately ruled out for the remainder of the game by the third quarter.

“We will evaluate him moving forward, but right now he is day-to-day,” Kerr said in a post-game interview.

This latest injury adds to the Warriors’ ongoing struggles with player health. The team is already without Jonathan Kuminga, who has been sidelined for the past two months due to an ankle injury. Although Gary Payton II returned to action in the contest against Brooklyn after missing the previous game with a fractured nose, he played with a protective mask.

Podziemski has been performing well prior to the injury, averaging 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in the last 11 games, following the acquisition of Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline.

The Warriors faced a challenging outing against the Nets, initially trailing 27-5 in the first quarter. However, a strong performance from Stephen Curry, who scored 40 points, helped secure a 121-119 victory. Curry said he felt motivated by the support of fans in opposing arenas, acknowledging the passion they brought to his performances throughout the road trip.

Curry’s performance was part of a series of games where he averaged 34.8 points and 7.8 assists over five contests. His impact on the game was not only evident in the statistics but also in the remarkable reception he received, reminiscent of a home game atmosphere.

“What he does is amazing. The joy he brings to fans is something special,” Kerr praised after the game. “You have to appreciate the show he puts on every time he steps onto the court.”

The Warriors, now 35-28, will begin a seven-game homestand starting with the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. Fans and analysts alike will be paying close attention to Podziemski’s recovery as the team navigates this critical stretch of the season.