Golden State Warriors preseason and season start

The Golden State Warriors transitioned from preseason play to their regular season home opener at the Chase Center. During the preseason, the team prepared for matchups including the Sacramento Kings, while the Chase Center received LEED Platinum certification for Operations and Maintenance. Brandin Podziemski also signed a five-year, $110 million contract extension during this period.

As the regular season began, the Warriors faced the Memphis Grizzlies for their first home game. The team entered the matchup dealing with significant roster injuries, specifically noting the absence of Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody, alongside questionable statuses for Brandin Podziemski and Charles Bassey.

On October 23, 2026, the Grizzlies secured a 111-108 comeback victory at the Chase Center. Despite holding a 12-point lead with fewer than four minutes remaining, the Warriors suffered a late-game collapse, failing to convert their final nine field-goal attempts during a 17-0 Grizzlies run. Ty Jerome led Memphis with 28 points, while rookie Cameron Boozer contributed 25 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists, including the go-ahead basket with 20 seconds left. For Golden State, Stephen Curry recorded 24 points, and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg added 18 points and 13 rebounds, marking the first such performance by a Warriors rookie since Chris Webber.

Following the loss, which leaves the Warriors with a 0-2 start to the season, head coach Steve Kerr described the late-game sequence as an “avalanche.” Curry expressed frustration, noting the defeat would “sting a little bit more” than a typical loss, and indicated he would likely sit out the upcoming game against the Phoenix Suns due to workload management.

Injury concerns persisted for Golden State. Brandin Podziemski left the game early after a hard fall, potentially aggravating a pre-existing back issue. The team also dealt with the confirmed absences of Kristaps Porzingis, Moses Moody, and Jimmy Butler III.