By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A solid showing for rejuvenated 37-year-old Stephen Curry with 14 points in just under 15 minutes for the Golden State Warriors in an NBA Preseason 2025 opening win, 111-103, against the Los Angeles Lakers in San Francisco’s Chase Center.
“A high-IQ, experienced, championship-caliber player that can really fit with any lineup out there. He gives space, he gives his presence on the defensive end, you saw the pass he made to me out of the corner,” said Curry, welcoming 39-year-old Al Horford to the team, “It’s just kind of the unspoken chemistry that will continue to get better. But he I kind of multidimensional as a five-man. I’m excited to see what that looks like for me, for Jimmy [Butler], JK [Jonathan Kuminga], Draymond [Green].”
For the team coached by JJ Redick, Austin Reaves joined Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber, and Adou Thiero on the sidelines. With his teammates nursing minor injuries, the Slovenian sensation was granted extended rest, similar to several other players around the league coming out of EuroBasket 2025. The confirmed plan is for Doncic to suit up later in the preseason.
With Lithuanian Augustas Marciulionis staying on the bench for the Lakers, European action was limited to Dutch Quinten Post putting in seven points for the Warriors.
Dieng, Topic, Leons
More preseason action in North Charleston Coliseum on Sunday, with the Oklahoma City Thunder dominating the Charlotte Hornets for a 135-114 victory.
European starters, French Ousmane Dieng and Serbian Nikola Topic chipped in 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and ten points and seven assists, respectively. Off the bench, Dutch Malevy Leons posted an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double. German Isaiah Hartenstein and Belgian Ajay Mitchell did not suit up. French imports of the Hornets, Moussa Diabate and Tidjane Salaun, finished with seven and six points.