1. In the absence of Kevon Looney, rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis seized his first opportunity to start for the Warriors. As the 57th overall pick, he faced the daunting task of guarding All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis, and he performed exceptionally well, especially during the first half.
Sabonis ended the game with only 12 points on 4-10 shooting in 34 minutes, and Jackson-Davis demonstrated his strength as a post defender and excellent positioning on the defensive end. However, in the second half, the 23-year-old admitted to feeling fatigued, leading to some unnecessary fouls.
On the offensive side, Jackson-Davis was highly active, attempting a team-high 14 field goals before exiting the game in the closing minutes. He did miss a few shots at the rim that he should have made, resulting in a slightly disappointing 6-14 shooting. Nevertheless, his 13-point, 10-rebound double-double was remarkably impressive and provides a solid foundation for the season ahead.
2. On the flip side of experience, Chris Paul came off the bench for the first time on Wednesday night. If there were concerns about his willingness to do so and his subsequent performance, those concerns were alleviated by his showing.
The 38-year-old improved as the game progressed and played a crucial role in Golden State’s comeback, erasing a seven-point deficit with less than two minutes remaining.
Paul finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and nine assists, shooting 4-6 from the field and 3-3 from three-point range. It should come as no surprise that bench Chris Paul resembled the regular Chris Paul. This is a significant positive development after a season in which Jordan Poole’s production fluctuated significantly between starting and coming off the bench. There’s a long road ahead, but this was a promising first step.
1. Klay Thompson
Is there cause for concern? Despite reports during the offseason and training camp suggesting that Klay Thompson was in excellent physical shape, this has not translated into his preseason performances.
The 33-year-old has struggled with his shooting in the first three games, but Wednesday’s game reached a new level of ineffectiveness. Thompson shot just 2-for-10 from the field and 1-4 from beyond the arc, finishing with only five points in over 31 minutes, and he also committed three turnovers.
While his three-point shooting at 38.9% isn’t disastrous, his overall field goal percentage of 29.7% is a concern. To his credit, he has been more active on the defensive glass during the preseason, grabbing seven rebounds on Wednesday.
Klay Thompson has experienced shooting slumps in the past and typically rebounds from them. It’s certainly better to shake off the rust during the preseason, especially considering he missed last season due to injury. The ongoing contract extension talks only add to the intrigue regarding his future performance.
2. Moses Moody
In the absence of Draymond Green and Kevon Looney, this game served as the Warriors’ first major test run ahead of their season opener against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. Coach Steve Kerr was clearly determined to secure a win, as evidenced by his rotation choices throughout the game, particularly in the closing moments.
Moses Moody appeared to be the most affected by the competitive nature of the game, as he played for less than eight minutes after logging 24, 22, and 32 minutes in the previous three games. Gary Payton II seemed to be the preferred choice, seeing 17 minutes of playing time, with his defensive prowess favored over Moody’s offensive skills.