SAN FRANCISCO — Brandin Podziemski is after missing the past five games with a minor back strain, and immediately has a lot on his plate.
Podziemski joined the Warriors’ starting lineup as they took on the Bucks without Steph Curry, who rested on the second night of a back-to-back. Speaking pregame, head coach Steve Kerr described Curry’s fatigue as more emotional and mental than physical, though Curry has also been dealing with a mild back injury over the past week.
Curry’s absence put a fair bit of playmaking and ball-handling duties on Podziemski, the second-year guard. He started alongside Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Moses Moody and Quinten Post.
The Warriors had Podziemski on a soft minutes restriction of about 25.
Before his back injury in the first minute of the Warriors’ game in Brooklyn, Podziemski had cemented himself in Golden State’s starting lineup. He averaged 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in his last eight starts before the Nets contest while often leading the Warriors in plus-minus.
“There was a really good rhythm to the game for him the last couple weeks before he got hurt,” Kerr said.
With Podziemski back and Curry expected to return on Thursday against the Raptors, the Warriors are at as full strength as they’ve been since acquiring Butler. Kerr said Moody, who has been a two-way revelation, will stay in the starting lineup even when all of he, Curry, Podziemski, Moody and Jonathan Kuminga are available.
“Moses is our starting two guard — or small forward, however you want to look at it,” Kerr said. “Moses, he’s a starting wing, let’s put it that way. And that doesn’t change.”