LAS VEGAS — Through five games, the Warriors remain undefeated in Summer League play.
They hoisted the Mitch Richmond Trophy with a 3-0 California Classic and have now started the major showcase in Vegas with two straight wins.
In their latest victory, a 92-82 pull-away from Chicago, Brandin Podziemski neared a triple-double, finishing with 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. His running mate, Trayce Jackson-Davis, tallied 17 points and 10 boards.
Sunday is expected to be Podziemski and Jackson-Davis’ last Summer League game. It’s standard for established second-year NBA players like themselves to play a few games to get extra offseason reps.
Golden State fell behind early, but Podziemski keyed an 11-1 run to help them take a 24-23 lead after the first quarter. In that run, the point guard assisted on a Kevin Knox II corner 3 and canned two triples of his own.
Back-to-back buckets from Podziemski in the last 26 seconds of the second quarter sent the Warriors into halftime with some extra rhythm, up three. At half, Podziemski had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists — including an alley-oop dime to Summer League standout Daeqwon Plowden.
Triple-double watch continued for Podziemski. He opened the second half with an assist to Plowden and a perfect outlet pass for a fast-break dunk off a rebound. Then he found Trayce Jackson-Davis on a no-look pass underneath for an easy jam. That brought his totals to six boards and seven assists.
Podziemski dropped in a baseline fadeaway at the end of the shot clock, displaying the level of calm an established NBA player like himself should in Summer League play. As the Warriors earned a double-digit lead, he looked even more comfortable.
In the fourth, Podziemski canned a catch-and-shoot 3, then drove the baseline off a pump fake for a one-handed jam. Podziemski was efficient, going 8-for-14 from the floor, but he also committed seven turnovers.
Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis came alive in the second half, draining several tough shots against smaller defenders. The 6-foot-10 wing recorded 28 points on 10-for-22 shooting.
Consider Podziemski — and Jackson-Davis — graduated from Summer League.
Notable
Second-round pick Quinten Post didn’t dress for Sunday night’s game. He hasn’t suited up for a Summer League game, with only two contests left for him to debut. He has been a full participant at practice as he ramps up from a minor leg injury.
Pat Spencer was also inactive for a third straight game.
Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Kevon Looney were in the building for Golden State’s night cap.