The Golden State Warriors are off to a brutal start in their second game in the Big Apple and fifth-straight road contest before returning to the Bay Area.
Taking on the Brooklyn Nets just after a 114-102 victory over the New York Knicks, the Warriors are looking like a team that’s played four-straight road games.
To make matters worse, as Golden State got off to a sloppy start, guard Brandin Podziemski suffered what looked like a non-contact back injury.
The young Golden State guard quickly signaled to the bench and left to the locker room, wasting no time, as The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported.
“Brandin Podziemski is leaving the game in pain in Brooklyn in the first minute tonight. Grabbing at his lower back. Called to the bench and walked to the locker room,” Slater shared on X.
While the Warriors are looking to find their groove and get into rhythm, they are unsure whether they will have Podziemski for the rest of the contest.
Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski during the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Warriors make Podziemski injury announcement
The Warriors have struggled mightily in the non-Stephen Curry minutes, and not having Podziemski return to the lineup would only make those minutes that much more difficult.
Before halftime, Golden State announced an update for the star guard’s back injury.
“Brandin Podziemski (lower back soreness) is TBD to return in tonight’s game at Brooklyn,” the Warriors shared on X.
Just before halftime ended, the Warriors ruled the second-year guard out for the remainder of the contest, which is a tough blow for the squad.
The Santa Clara product has been much improved since Jimmy Butler‘s arrival at the trade deadline — as has been the case for the club as a whole — and an injury at this time would be brutal.
The Warriors have already been missing the impact of another young star as Jonathan Kuminga has been out for two months with an ankle injury.
