The Golden State Warriors kicked off their preseason with a thrilling 91-90 victory over the L.A. Clippers, thanks to a buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer by Lindy Waters III. The game, played at the Stan Sheriff Center in Hawaii, showcased some of the Warriors’ new talent, with Waters stealing the spotlight in dramatic fashion.
Lindy Waters Shines in His Warriors Debut
Acquired via trade in June, Waters wasted no time making his presence felt, delivering an outstanding performance in the second half. His deep, turning three-pointer at the buzzer secured the one-point win and capped off a stellar game in which he drained five three-pointers. Waters led the Warriors with 15 points, shooting an impressive 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. In a game where Golden State struggled to connect from long range (shooting just 11-of-48 or 22.9% from deep), Waters’ sharpshooting stood out, solidifying his case for more playing time.
Steve Kerr’s Strategic Adjustments
Head coach Steve Kerr used the preseason opener to test out his roster, rotating all 19 available players. The starting lineup featured Stephen Curry, De’Anthony Melton, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green, and Trayce Jackson-Davis, while Andrew Wiggins sat out due to illness. While it was a clunky offensive game for the Warriors, with several key players struggling to find their rhythm, Kerr praised the contributions from Waters and others who stepped up when it mattered most.
Moses Moody Makes His Case
While Waters stole the show at the end, Moses Moody was a standout through the first three quarters. The 22-year-old made his case for a larger role this season, finishing with 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including two tough three-pointers. Beyond his scoring, Moody contributed four rebounds and two steals in just 13 minutes, ending the game with a team-high +14 in plus-minus. His strong, all-around performance is sure to catch the eye of Kerr as the regular season approaches.
Melton Impresses in First Warriors Appearance
Another key offseason addition, De’Anthony Melton, also had an impressive debut for the Warriors. Starting alongside Curry in the backcourt, Melton contributed eight points, two rebounds, an assist, and a steal in 12 minutes. He shot 2-of-5 from three-point range, showing no signs of the back injury that limited him last season with the Philadelphia 76ers.
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Struggles Outside the Key Performers
Outside of Waters, Moody, and Melton, the Warriors struggled offensively. Brandin Podziemski went 1-of-9 from the field, Curry shot just 2-of-8, and Buddy Hield made only 2-of-7 attempts after hitting his first three-pointer early in the game. As a team, Golden State shot just 33.7% from the floor, but their 19 offensive rebounds helped them generate 20 more field-goal attempts than the Clippers.
The Warriors now head back home to prepare for their next preseason matchup against the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night. Despite some offensive struggles, the emergence of Waters and solid contributions from key players like Moody and Melton provide plenty of optimism as the regular season approaches.
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