Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski takes painful shot to the face from Kawhi Leonard

Brandin Podziemski is known for his willingness to sacrifice his body for the Golden State Warriors, but he probably didn’t expect a literal shot to the jaw from one of the league’s strongest players.

In a high-stakes Western Conference Play-In showdown against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday, the sophomore guard took a brutal blow that left the Warriors faithful holding their breath.

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The scary moment unfolded late in the third quarter after a rare lapse from Stephen Curry. Curry lost his handle at the top of the key, allowing a swarm of Clippers defenders to strip the ball. Kawhi Leonard immediately ignited a fast break with Podziemski as the only man back. As Leonard rose for a layup, his trailing elbow caught Podziemski square in the face. The Warriors’ young “glue guy” collapsed to the floor instantly as play halted.

The physical nature of the game wasn’t limited to the players. Even the officials struggled to stay on the floor, as veteran referee Ben Taylor exited with a leg injury at the 8:51 mark of the third quarter. Alternate official Sean Corbin stepped in to finish the contest.

Before the collision, Podziemski was putting together a signature stat-sheet-stuffing performance. He tallied 12 points, seven rebounds, and two steals in 34 minutes of action. Kristaps Porzingis also provided a massive spark for Golden State, hammering home a pair of thunderous putback dunks that temporarily silenced the Inglewood crowd. Porzingis contributed 20 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.

On the other side, Leonard paced Los Angeles with 19 points and six rebounds, helping the Clippers maintain a 96-85 lead deep into the fourth quarter. Curry, who briefly retreated to the locker room in the first quarter before returning, has struggled to find his rhythm against constant double-teams.

Whether Podziemski can shake off the hit and return for the final minutes is a massive question mark. For a Golden State team fighting for its playoff life, losing his energy and defensive IQ in a do-or-die scenario is a nightmare.

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