The Golden State Warriors fell in their first preseason game of the summer, as the Los Angeles Clippers
played spoiler, holding on to a 104-101 lead. Recent free agent signing Rui Hachimura did the majority of the damage, scoring a game-high 21 points, all of which came in the first half. Following the defeat, here are winners and losers from Golden State's first tune-up game ahead of the 2026-27 season.Winner: Brandon Williams
Backup point guard Brandon Williams finished the contest with a plus-minus of plus 16, the best of any player on the team. He finished his night with 11 points in 16 minutes on 4-for-9 shooting to go along with two rebounds, three assists and one steal. If Williams can keep up this pace throughout the preseason, he may leapfrog his former high
school teammate, De'Anthony Melton, as the first point guard off the bench.
Winner: Stephen Curry
Former two-time MVP Stephen Curry looked the part again during his preseason debut, scoring 10 points on 3-for-4 shooting in 13 minutes to go along with two rebounds, two assists and one steal. While 13 minutes of play isn't the biggest indicator for future success, Curry's performance looked promising as he nears his 18th NBA season.
Winner: Backup big men
Both Charles Bassey and Graham Ike looked polished off the bench, as the duo combined for 23 points in 32 minutes. Ike especially was disruptive on the defensive end, tallying two steals and one block. Considering the team has yet to reveal a return timeline for Kristaps Porzingis, Bassey and Ike may be relied upon for depth in the frontcourt sooner than expected.
Loser: LJ Cryer
Of all active players, LJ Cryer got the short end of the stick, serving as the final guard in a loaded rotation. Cryer played just three minutes, four fewer than any other player on the team (including Exhibit 10 signees). In limited action, he went 0-for-3 from the field and 1-for-2 from the free-throw line, finishing with one point. However, with five more preseason matchups remaining, Cryer should have more chances, especially if other players are sat out to rest.
Loser: Brandin Podziemski
Although Podziemski impressed during training camp, his first preseason game left a bit to be desired. The former Santa Clara guard finished with seven points in 18 minutes, shooting 2-for-10 from the field. He also recorded two assists, two rebounds and one steal. Similar to Cryer, Podziemski will soon be able to redeem himself, with five preseason games yet to play. Golden State's next matchup will take place Wednesday, Oct. 7, against the Portland Trail Blazers.
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This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Winners and losers from Golden State's first preseason matchup vs. Clippers
