Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski experienced an injury scare during his season debut against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night but returned to finish the game.
Podziemski, who missed Golden State’s season opener with back soreness, took a hard fall less than four minutes into the contest after being struck in the face by Memphis center Zach Edey while driving toward the basket.
The fourth-year guard remained on the floor as play continued before heading to the locker room at the next stoppage. He later returned to the bench with a heating pad around his lower back.
Podziemski re-entered the game with 1:06 remaining in the first quarter, receiving cheers from the Chase Center crowd.
He quickly intercepted a pass from former teammate Quinten Post and scored Golden State’s final two baskets of the period.
The guard finished with 18 points, including a team-high nine in the opening quarter. However, after making his first four shots, he missed 11 of his final 14 attempts.
The early injury concerns come after Podziemski appeared in all 82 games last season, making him one of only 18 NBA players to accomplish that feat.
Following the game, Podziemski confirmed that he would sit out Saturday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns, the second night of Golden State’s first back-to-back of the season.
