The Golden State Warriors gained’t really feel the identical this yr with out Klay Thompson round. Thompson signed a cope with the Dallas Mavericks in NBA free company over the ending, ending a legendary partnership with Stephen Curry, Draymond Inexperienced, and Steve Kerr that helped produce 4 NBA championships. The Warriors had a busy offseason, making an attempt and failing to amass Paul George and Lauri Markkanen, however rebounding with smaller offers to carry on Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton, and Kyle Anderson.
On Wednesday, the Warriors took the ground for the primary time since Thompson signed in Dallas, and guess what: even with out one half of the “Splash Brothers,” Golden State nonetheless appeared completely terrifying from three-point vary.
The Warriors opened the preseason on Wednesday evening by knocking off the Sacramento Kings, 122-112. Golden State did it by pulling down 28 three-pointers — a quantity that units the franchise report and could be among the many most ever in a recreation …. if this wasn’t within the preseason.
The Warriors shot 28-of-52 from three-point vary. Curry went 3-of-6 from deep in 16 minutes, and his teammates took it from there. This is just one off the Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA report of 29 made threes in a recreation, set in 2020 with out followers within the stands, when everybody’s taking pictures numbers gave the impression to be higher.
What a wild taking pictures show from the Warriors. Watch each make right here:
The Warriors set their franchise report with 27 made threes in an April recreation in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers in 2023 the place they dropped 157 factors. Thompson had six made threes in that recreation. To hit much more threes within the first recreation with out Thompson is undeniably spectacular … even when it’s within the preseason.
Jonathan Kuminga making 4-of-7 threes is extremely encouraging for the Warriors, after he hit solely 32 p.c of his triples final yr. He’s going to should shoot like that if Golden State’s beginning lineup from Wednesday evening — Kuminga with Inexperienced and Kevon Looney — goes to work. It was additionally good to see Brandin Podziemski, the second-year participant poised to take Thompson’s spot within the lineup, hit 2-of-4 from three.
The brand new free agent signings did work, too. Buddy Hield ripped 6-of-7 thees on this recreation, and Melton hit 4-of-9. Hield usually appears to get off to scorching begins along with his new workforce when he alters organizations, so we’ll see how this performs out.
What a recreation for the Warriors. The Kings protection will doubtless be very unhealthy this yr, however who cares. It’s solely preseason, however the workforce has to really feel good seeing the squad shoot like this.
