Brandin Podziemski's late-game surge leads Warriors past Nuggets

Podziemski came off the bench and finished with 18 points, a career-high 15 rebounds, nine assists and a steal in the Warriors' 128-117 win.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 5:57am by Ben Kaplan

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Brandin Podziemski, a 22-year-old point guard for the Golden State Warriors, had a standout performance in the team's 128-117 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. Despite struggling early in the game, Podziemski caught fire in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 points and grabbing 8 rebounds to help the Warriors secure the win in the absence of injured star Stephen Curry and other key players.

Why it matters

Podziemski's late-game heroics were crucial for the Warriors, who were missing several key players. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways, from scoring to rebounding to facilitating, showcased his versatility and potential as a young player on the rise.

The details

Podziemski finished the game with 18 points, a career-high 15 rebounds, 9 assists, and a steal in 37 minutes of play. After starting the game 1-for-10 from the field, he went 6-for-6 in the fourth quarter, hitting two crucial 3-pointers to help the Warriors pull away. Podziemski's performance was the eighth time in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) that a player has recorded at least 15 points and 15 rebounds off the bench in a single quarter.

  • Podziemski had a standout fourth quarter performance on Sunday, February 23, 2026.

The players

Brandin Podziemski

A 22-year-old point guard for the Golden State Warriors who had a career-high performance in the team's win over the Denver Nuggets.

Stephen Curry

The injured star guard for the Golden State Warriors who was out due to a lingering knee injury.

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors who praised Podziemski's late-game performance as "phenomenal".

Kristaps Porziņģis

A veteran player for the Golden State Warriors who missed the game due to illness.

Draymond Green

A veteran player for the Golden State Warriors who missed the game due to lower back soreness.

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What they’re saying

“Yes, Podz!”

— Stephen Curry

“It was phenomenal. I think he had eight rebounds in the quarter, hit a couple big shots. He was brilliant.”

— Steve Kerr, Warriors coach

“Everything feels slow motion, kind of. I think those last two threes that I shot, everything felt so slow ... the goal is to always try to find that. The great players do that. That's really what it felt like.”

— Brandin Podziemski

The takeaway

Brandin Podziemski's standout performance off the bench, including his late-game surge, showcased his versatility and potential as a young player on the rise for the Golden State Warriors. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways was crucial in the team's win over the Denver Nuggets, and it highlighted the depth and resilience of the Warriors roster despite key absences.