Season-best performance catapults Warrior youngster into Playoff mix

The last minute absence of Klay Thompson offered Moses Moody a last gasp opportunity few thought he’d be afforded in the Golden State Warriors’ 136-125 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.

Thompson was a late scratching from the contest with lower back soreness, completely altering Steve Kerr’s usual rotation for the must-win matchup. Having played less than five total minutes across the last four games, Moody was a direct beneficiary of his veteran teammate’s absence. The second-year wing proved the story of the night as a result, taking full advantage of the surprising opportunity.

Moses Moody produced a season-best performance on Tuesday night to catapult his way back into calculations for the Golden State Warriors’ playoff rotation.

The 20-year-old played nearly 26 minutes in the contest, the fifth-most of any Warrior. He finished with 13 points and five rebounds, shooting an efficient 5-for-7 from the floor. For context, Moody has scored 13 points or more on just four other occasions this season, and has recorded five rebounds only one other time.

Given the enormity of the game in Golden State’s season, it was clearly a season-best performance from the 2021 lottery pick. Speaking after the game, Kerr was full of praise for Moody’s game.

"“Moses, I can’t say enough about this young guy, the way he’s prepared and worked. He’s so mature. The last couple of weeks you can really see the improvement and the confidence, and the strength around the basket.”"

Moody’s been criticized at times for a lack of impact during his second season, but he was distinctively noticeable on both ends of the floor against the Thunder. He knocked down his first three within a couple of minutes of being on the floor in the first-quarter, then followed that with a tough side step triple early in the second.

He may have had the play of the game during a pivotal moment in the third-quarter, snatching an offensive rebound off a missed free-throw from Draymond Green, before exploding for an aggressive standing dunk that surprised everyone watching on. He used those springy feet and his 7’1″ wingspan to be a presence on both the defensive and offensive glass throughout the night.

Thompson’s absence may have opened up more questions moving forward, with Moody’s performance sure to lift him back into the picture for regular rotation minutes. His output saw Anthony Lamb benched in the second-half after 12 minutes in the first, while fellow second-year forward Jonathan Kuminga played just under 20 minutes.

This is another example of Moody being ready for the big moments, having performed well in meaningful minutes during last season’s Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. He may find it more difficult when Thompson and Andrew Wiggins return, but his performance against OKC was a statement to Kerr that he does in fact exist.

It’s been a disappointing season in many ways for Moody, having regularly been on the outer of the rotation and even having his name floated in trade speculation two months ago. However, Tuesday could prove the first step in ending his sophomore year in impressive fashion, and adjusting the perception on him entering the offseason.