Warriors' Young Core Shines in Upset Over Nuggets

Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody lead the way with strong performances in the absence of Stephen Curry and other key players.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 1:50am

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The Golden State Warriors pulled off a surprise 128-117 upset over the Denver Nuggets, led by standout performances from young players Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody. Podziemski had 18 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists, while Moody scored a team-high 23 points to go with 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr praised the duo, highlighting their growth and consistency in a season marked by injuries to the team's veteran stars.

Why it matters

The Warriors' win over the Nuggets showcases the potential of their young core to step up in the absence of Stephen Curry and other key players. Podziemski and Moody's strong outings suggest they could be the pieces to help the Warriors transition into the post-Curry era and maintain competitiveness.

The details

With Curry, Kristaps Porzingis, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler all out, the Warriors turned to Podziemski and Moody to lead the way. Podziemski delivered a dominant fourth quarter performance, scoring 15 points without a miss to close out the Nuggets. Moody continued his recent hot streak, averaging 14.4 points on 45.7% shooting over the last six weeks. Kerr praised both players for their growth, confidence and poise, noting that they are providing the 'youth and juice' the Warriors have been lacking.

  • The Warriors defeated the Nuggets on February 23, 2026.

The players

Brandin Podziemski

A young combo guard for the Golden State Warriors who has struggled with inconsistency this season but delivered a standout performance in the win over the Nuggets.

Moses Moody

A second-year guard for the Warriors who has emerged as a steady and consistent contributor, averaging 14.4 points on 45.7% shooting over the last six weeks.

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors, who praised the performances of Podziemski and Moody and highlighted their growth and potential.

Stephen Curry

The star point guard of the Golden State Warriors, who missed the game against the Nuggets as he continues to recover from a knee injury.

Draymond Green

The veteran forward for the Golden State Warriors, who was a late scratch for the game due to lower back soreness.

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What they’re saying

“Phenomenal. I think he had eight rebounds in the quarter. Hit a couple big shots. He was brilliant, and we needed it... It's been up and down for [him], for sure. But our season has been up and down as a whole, and sometimes a team's struggles impact the individuals. But we know what he can do. For the last couple of years, he's been one of our highest plus-minus players. He's very versatile player.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors

“Moses has been brilliant for six weeks. He's shooting the lights out– the confidence. He's maybe been our most consistent performer. His on-ball defense– he's top of the league against pick and roll. And he's such a great teammate. He's there for you every night the way he works. He's so poised. It's really fun to watch Moses blossom and have such a good season.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors

“I had a conversation with coach [Kerr] yesterday. And I was asking him, with Steph being gone, do you need me to do anything else? Does my role change at all? And he was saying, that's one of his favorite things about me. Just that the composure and the being solid, and I've been really solid for a long time. And I heard that, and that's the same thing that I've been thinking. But it's cool to have somebody else say it too, what you are, what's been in your head.”

— Moses Moody

What’s next

The Warriors will look to build on this upset win as they head out on an upcoming road trip. The team is hopeful that Draymond Green will be available for the road games after missing the Nuggets contest due to lower back tightness.

The takeaway

The strong performances from Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody in the Warriors' win over the Nuggets demonstrate the team's promising young core and their ability to step up in the absence of veteran stars. This could be a glimpse of the Warriors' future as they transition into the post-Curry era.