Warriors instant analysis: Undermanned Golden State strengthens Wembanyama's MVP case

Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News on Apr 2, 2026

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SAN FRANCISCO – Draymond Green has made a Hall of Fame career out of playing taller than his 6-foot-7 frame for the Warriors.

Reserve teammate Nate Williams may stand just 6-5, but he has carved out a spot in the NBA by playing with a similar level of verve and energy.

Their heart, that desire, collective fearlessness was never in doubt on Wednesday night at Chase Center.

But the intangibles could only do so much against a 7-4 basketball force of nature named Victor Wembanyama as the nine-man Warriors fell 127-113 to the Spurs.

It was ugly early. Coach Steve Kerr called timeout after just 3:56 had elapsed in the game.

During that short time span, Wembanyama scored 10 points on four of 6 shooting and grabbed five rebounds to power the Spurs to a 17-3 lead.

He finished with 41 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks in just 29 minutes, strengthening what is a growing MVP case on the second seed in the Western Conference.

Omer Yurtseven scored 17 off the Warriors bench, while Seth Curry put in 10 points in just 10 minutes and LJ Cryer poured in 17. Nate Williams scored 18 points. Green and Brandin Podziemski each scored 14 points for the Warriors.

The Warriors, as they have throughout this Steph Curry-less stretch while he recovers from runner’s knee, played hard even as Gui Santos, De’Anthony Melton, Kristaps Porzingis, Gui Santos and Gary Payton II were all ruled out.

After going down by that 14-point deficit early, Podziemski and Malevy Leons cut the deficit to just 35-26 after one quarter. That momentum did not carry over to the second quarter, where the Spurs regained control and led 70-49 at halftime.

Golden State (36-40) will play Cleveland on Thursday, and Kerr expects Melton, Porzingis, Santos and Payton II to be available.

Why the Warriors won’t tank

Almost a third of the league has given up on their season, engaging in self-sabotage in an attempt to give themselves a better chance at a high draft pick.

The Warriors, both in talent and health, would have been justified in joining this group after Jimmy Butler was lost for the season and Curry went down in the span of about a week.

Instead, they have continued to try to win games, succeeding at just high enough of a rate that the Warriors have all but locked themselves into a play-in spot and the 11th best odds in the lottery.

Kerr explained why the Warriors just will not throw in the towel on the season during his pregame press conference.

“It’s not what we do. We just compete, that’s the job,” Kerr said. “Steph’s in the final stages of his career and has a chance to compete in the playoffs, and he’s going to want to, and the group is going to want to. That stuff has a way of shaking out.”

Foul trouble, big minutes

With only nine players available, foul trouble stung even more than usual against Wembanyama and the Spurs. Draymond Green had four fouls in the first half, while Omer Yurtseven was up to five in the third quarter. Nate Williams also had four fouls midway through the third.

Leons, nursing a sore right wrist, showed his toughness by playing through it. When shooting free throws, Leons took his foul shots lefthanded, and actually made 1 of 3 attempts.

His fellow two-way teammate Williams played 47 minutes.