Box Score
The Warriors needed to persevere to maintain their perfect Summer League record (5-0), and Golden State did just that, defeating the Chicago Bulls 92-82 on Sunday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
A day after the Warriors dominated the Phoenix Suns, the Bulls plagued Golden State in a way they'd never seen before, heading into Sunday's game unbeaten in the Summer League.
The Warriors flipped the switch early with a decisive 11-1 run in the first quarter to quickly retake the lead after the Bulls had nearly pulled away.
Golden State started the second half strong with a rapid scoring rush led by Brandin Podziemski, Daekwon Plowden and Trayce Jackson-Davis, helping the Warriors build a double-digit lead and secure another impressive Summer League victory.
Here are three takeaways from Golden State's win over Chicago.
Podziemski handles business
One of the primary goals of bringing Podziemski to the 2024 NBA Summer League was to give the second-year guard a chance to gain confidence as a No. 1 option on the court, and that's exactly what he did on Sunday.
Podziemski was arguably the best player on the court, finishing with 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, doing a little bit of everything and showing the qualities that earned him a spot on the 2023-24 All-Rookie First Team last season.
As Golden State struggled to find a rhythm early on, Podziemski created his own offense with a flurry of 3-pointers, including a nifty step-back one from beyond the arc.
The 21-year-old scored at all three levels, including a stunning reverse layup to help the Bulls close the first half strong after struggling against the Warriors in the first two quarters.
Podziemski also shone as a playmaker, making an impressive no-look pass to Jackson-Davis for a wide-open dunk.
Given Stephen Curry's off-the-ball tendencies and the departure of Chris Paul, Podziemski's elevation as a ball-handler in Golden State's offense will be crucial to the Warriors' future success, and if results play out like they did Sunday, there's plenty of reason for optimism.
Find your perfect place
Warriors summer league coach Anthony Vereen confidently declared Plowden an NBA fit because of his ability to execute plays efficiently within an organization — a key skill for a role player — and the 25-year-old Plowden further strengthened that claim with another strong performance Sunday.
Poziersmukki stole the show on Sunday, but that's fine by Plowden, who prides himself on his ability to work within the natural flow of Golden State's offense.
Plowden, who had a team-high 19 points on 75 percent shooting the night before, dropped his point total to 14 but his impact was still felt throughout the game. The 25-year-old wing continued to be incredibly efficient from the 3-point line, making 2 of 4 shots from beyond the 3-point line.
Plowden continues to show off his plus athleticism to the fullest, charging powerfully into the ruck with a tough and-one finish and showcasing his leaping ability on a transition slam off a lob from Podziemski.
Ending on a good note
In what is expected to be Jackson-Davis' final game of the 2024 NBA Summer League, the Warriors' young big man recorded a double-double upon leaving the game.
Jackson-Davis had 17 points, 10 rebounds, one block and two steals in 30 minutes of play. The 24-year-old Davis made 4-of-7 field goals and 9-of-13 free throws for a plus-12 rating on the night.
Jackson-Davis will likely have a key role with the Warriors during the 2024 NBA season, but his strong performance in Summer League suggests the talented center can pick up right where he left off after a strong rookie season and provide the vertical space Golden State needs to become a serious contender in the Western Conference.
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