Podziemski helps Warriors hold off Kings in California Classic’s first Battle of NorCal

Brandon Podziemski made a free throw in the final seconds to help the Golden State Warriors hold on for a 91-90 victory over the Sacramento Kings on the final day of the California Classic at Chase Center in San Francisco.

Podziemski scored 15 points to lead the Warriors, who claimed the Mitch Richmond Trophy in the inaugural Battle of NorCal. Ethan Thompson came off the bench to score 13 points. Trayce Jackson-Davis had 11 points and six rebounds.

Keon Ellis scored 30 points for the Kings, going 12 of 21 from the field and 4 of 9 from 3-point range, but he committed six turnovers and missed a 3-pointer that would have won the game.

Drew Timme scored 13 points for Sacramento. Colby Jones had 12 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Mason Jones had 12 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

The Kings trailed by one midway through the first period before the Warriors staged a 12-2 run to open up a double-digit lead. The Warriors led 30-17 at the end of the first quarter and went up 39-21 in the second.

Sacramento staged an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 10, but the Warriors outscored the Kings 18-8 over the final 4:47 to take a 59-38 lead into the halftime break.

Golden State shot 54.5% from the field and 38.9% from 3-point range while converted 16 of 18 free-throw attempts. Sacramento shot 37.5% from the field, went 3 of 13 (.231) from beyond the arc and only got to the free-throw line seven times.

The Kings stormed back to cut the deficit to four after outscoring the Warriors 20-3 to start the second half. Ellis scored 11 points during that stretch to lead the charge.

The Kings got within two on a 3-pointer by Ellis with 2:25 to go in the third quarter. The Warriors responded with an 8-0 run to carry a 75-65 lead into the fourth.

The Warriors went up by 16 on a basket by Jackson-Davis early in the fourth, but the Kings wouldn’t quit. They stormed back to tie the game on a three-point play by Mason Jones with 25 seconds to play, but Podziemski made one of two free throws with 5 seconds remaining and Ellis missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.