Brandin Podziemski finds himself on the injury report as the Golden State Warriors play in Canada. The promising rookie experienced a knee tweak during the latest win over the New York Knicks. Postgame, Podziemski was spotted in the locker room, diligently icing his knee and maneuvering with a limp. Luckily, as Dubsnation anxiously awaits his return, a silver lining surfaces, with Klay Thompson set to reclaim his starting role.

Initially tagged as doubtful, Podziemski’s status took a last-minute nosedive before the game, prompting Kerr to convey that Thompson would start in place of Podz. Moreover, Kerr also shared that Podziemski underwent an MRI in recent hours, with the results yet to be disclosed to him.

This upgraded role can be Klay’s golden opportunity to reaffirm his role on the team. Once celebrated for his textbook shooting, Klay found himself relegated to the bench due to a dip in his performance. Meanwhile, Podziemski, though clocking fewer points than Klay, has been reliable. He averages a cool 9.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, for a nearly 45% clip.

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Fortunately, Klay has rediscovered his touch in recent games, averaging 21.3 points through the last 3 games, despite coming off the bench. However, Kerr, while announcing Klay’s new role, did not reveal whether Klay would resume a starting role upon Brandin’s return. With that, if Klay sustains his current surge, the Warriors undoubtedly will desire their dynasty-striking trio to spearhead their playoff push this season.

Warriors vs Raptors: Starting lineups

Entering the matchup, both teams come riding high on winning momentum. The Warriors have come snagging 4 wins in their 5 games after the All-Star break. On the other hand, the Toronto Raptors have won 3 out of 4, including 1 against fast-paced Indiana.

Unfortunately, as the Warriors enter without Brandin, they face additional key absences. Role player Gui Santos will be out due to right knee inflammation. Additionally, personal reasons remain to keep Andrew Wiggins away from the court, marking a significant loss for the team. Interestingly, the Raptors fans would have echoed the Warriors’ thrill of witnessing Wiggins, since he hails from Toronto and was born and raised in its suburbs. The game will mark his third consecutive missed game.

On the Raptors’ side, the absence of former Warrior Chris Boucher persists as he continues to battle illness, making it his fourth consecutive missed game. Regardless, the Warriors are playing some of their best ball games in recent days. Moreover, even though their playoff dreams are quite stretched, the Raptors have proven to be an exciting bunch, capable of keeping up with the toughest of teams.