Stephen Curry and Co. Dealt Huge Blow Ahead of Game 2 vs. Rockets as Steve Kerr’s Prediction About Forgotten Warriors Star Could Come True

The Warriors handled business in Houston on Sunday, taking a 1-0 lead over the Rockets with a gritty 95-85 win. And if you caught the game, you already know—Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler were cooking. They combined for 56 points, and honestly, it looked like they were just hooping at the park.

Now here’s where things get a little weird. Brandin Podziemski, the only other Warrior to hit double figures, might not be good to go for Game 2. Yeah, seriously. He wasn’t even listed on the injury report at first. Then out of nowhere—he’s questionable.

Turns out, the rookie’s battling an illness. Steve Kerr said he got through shootaround, which is a good sign. But he’ll still need to go through warmups before they decide if he’s playing. Kerr also mentioned it could be something he ate. Which, let’s be honest, is the most frustrating kind of sick.

Since mid-February, right after Golden State pulled off the Butler trade, Podz has held down a starting spot. And honestly? He’s earned every bit of that role.

In Game 1 against Houston, the rookie stepped up big time. He dropped 14 points and led the team in plus-minus at +17. During the regular season, he quietly put together a solid sophomore campaign—11.7 points, 5.1 boards, 3.4 assists, and a steal per game. His shooting splits? Pretty clean too: 44.5% from the field, 37.2% from deep, and 75.8% at the line.

But the Warriors have another issue on their hands heading into Game 2—rebounding.

Despite grabbing a win in Game 1, they got outmuscled on the glass. The Rockets pulled down 52 boards to Golden State’s 36, including a staggering 22-6 advantage on the offensive end. That’s not just a bad look—it’s a recipe for disaster in a tight playoff series.

Steve Kerr didn’t shy away from that reality after Tuesday’s practice. He owned up to riding Jimmy Butler a little too long when the Warriors were rolling in the third quarter.

“I honestly thought where I made a mistake was, we were rolling in that third quarter and I kept Jimmy out there because we were rolling,” Kerr said. “I thought I played him too much in the second half.”

Butler’s logged serious minutes lately—42 in Game 1, 40 in the play-in, and 48+ in that OT battle against the Clippers. And if Kerr wants to keep him fresh while patching up the rebounding issues, he may need to turn to his bench.

Gui Santos got under seven minutes in the opener and grabbed just one rebound. Jonathan Kuminga didn’t see the floor—for the third straight game. Still, both are among the Warriors‘ top rebounders off the bench.

With the Rockets dominating the glass, it might be time for a rotation shake-up. Because if this turns into another rebounding clinic by Houston, heading home tied 1-1 is very much on the table.

This is a developing story…

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