Kicking off 2026 with a massive challenge at Chase Center! The Golden State Warriors (18-16) host the Western Conference kings – the Oklahoma City Thunder (29-5) – on Friday night, but Dub Nation, brace yourselves because the Dubs are severely shorthanded. The legendary Big Three – Stephen Curry (ankle), Jimmy Butler (illness), and Draymond Green (rest) – are all out. Add De’Anthony Melton (knee injury management), Seth Curry (sciatica), and late addition Jonathan Kuminga (lower back soreness) to the list, and the Warriors have just 10 available players against this NBA juggernaut.
Moses Moody
Amid the injury storm, a bright spot emerges in Gui Santos – the 6’7″ Brazilian forward earning his fourth career start. He’ll line up alongside Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Will Richard, and Quinten Post – a youthful, energetic lineup lacking experience against the Thunder’s machine led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gui Santos: From Bench Warmer to Deserved Spotlight
Santos is red-hot coming off one of the best games of his career against the Charlotte Hornets: 15 points on just 6 shots (5 makes), 3-of-4 from deep, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and zero turnovers! He finished +15, marking his sixth straight game with a positive plus/minus. Over the Warriors’ last 12 games, Santos leads the team in plus/minus at +59 – a stat that screams impact despite limited minutes.
At 6’7″, Santos is the modern stretch-4 prototype: solid three-point shooting, tough defense, rarely overmatched by opposing power forwards. Fans have long wondered why coach Steve Kerr has capped his minutes in favor of smaller role players at the 4. But now, necessity gives Santos a huge minute share – a golden opportunity to prove he deserves more trust. If he keeps this up, Santos could become a key piece in navigating this rough patch.
Dubs Need a Monster Scoring Night from Podz
Highlight alert: Brandin Podziemski is surprisingly the Warriors’ third-leading scorer at 12.5 points per game – impressive for a second-year player! Golden State’s secondary scoring issues were already a problem with Curry and Butler healthy; without them, multiple players must step up. But it all starts with Podz delivering a huge game.
He’s coming off a strong 19-point outing (6-of-9 shooting) against the Hornets, and his career high is 29 points. Dub Nation, we might need him to hit that mark – or close – to have any shot against the Thunder!
Expect Heavy Double-Big Minutes: Necessity-Born Experiment That Could Pay Off
With only 10 players available, creativity is key. The Warriors have experimented with Al Horford at the 4 over the last four games, and expect more of that Friday. Three true centers – Horford, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Quinten Post – mean Horford will log significant minutes at power forward alongside Post or TJD.
It might sound unconventional, but this could be a smart counter against the Thunder’s rebounding dominance. The double-big look should help the Warriors battle on the glass and deny OKC second-chance points. In this depleted state, the tall lineup isn’t just forced – it might disrupt the young, athletic Thunder.
The Warriors are riding a 5-1 stretch in their last six, but tonight’s opponent is a true monster – the defending champs in destructive form. This is a massive test for the young guns: Santos, Podz, Moody, Richard, Post… will they shine or get overwhelmed? Dub Nation, win or lose, rally behind these guys fighting with everything they’ve got!
What do you think – upset chance for the Warriors tonight? How many will Podz drop? Can Santos stay hot?