Warriors' Five-Out Look Gets an Early Test Against Kings

Golden State's thin preseason roster still has enough Curry-led structure to edge Sacramento.

SAC @ GSW Oct 11, 2026 at 12:30 AM UTC

Preseason games rarely hand out much certainty, but the Warriors' injury list shapes this one. Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody are out with knee injuries, Kristaps Porzingis is out indefinitely with what has been called a health issue, and Gui Santos is questionable for rest. That leaves Golden State short in the frontcourt and on the wing. It is one of six exhibition tests for a team trying to put last season's Play-In loss to the Suns behind it.

The listed preseason starting group of Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg, Draymond Green and Al Horford suggests how Golden State is adjusting. Horford may be the opening-night center, so he and Green are likely to anchor the middle while the team installs its new five-out offense. That scheme should leave Curry plenty of room to operate, and it gives the Warriors a clear structure even without their full roster. Watching how Lendeborg and Podziemski fit into those spacing principles is the most interesting part of this game.

Sacramento's picture is murkier. Domantas Sabonis, Russell Simmons and Malik Monk were listed as questionable, and Jamal Murray was out in the same ESPN report. That report concerned the Lakers preseason game, not this one, so their availability here is uncertain. If the Kings' regulars sit or play limited minutes, they lose their usual interior hub and much of their creation, which would make it harder to exploit Golden State's lack of size.

I'm leaning toward the Warriors. Their lineup is clearer, their offense is built around Curry, and they have a veteran frontcourt pairing to steady things. Expect a choppy, rotation-heavy game that Golden State controls in stretches with its starters and shooting.

All game reports