Image Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

Kings vs Warriors: Three Takeaways as Russell Westbrook’s Triple-Double Guides Kings Past Warriors

Russell Westbrook recorded the 204th triple-double of his career.

Image Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

On Wednesday, November 5, the Sacramento Kings registered their third win of the season as they defeated the Golden State Warriors 121-116 in a thrilling NBA 2025-26 clash. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 25 points, two rebounds, and two assists but it was their off-season acquisition, Russell Westbrook, who emerged as their team’s hero.

The veteran forward recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists to guide the Kings past the stronger Warriors. Apart from them, Malik Monk finished with 21 points off the bench, while Dennis Schroder added 18 points along with Drew Eubanks and Nique Clifford’s 12 points each.

The Warriors, on the other hand, missed their All-Stars including Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green. Not only this, but Brandin Podziemski was also listed as questionable before being upgraded to available. De’Anthony Melton and Alex Toohey were also sidelined. During the absence of key players, Will Richard led the Dubs with 30 points, and Moses Moody came up with 29 points. Jonathan Kuminga added 24 points to the overall tally.

Here, we will go through key takeaways from the Kings vs Warriors game that pushed the Dubs to their fourth defeat in nine games.

Russell Westbrook Displays Vintage All-Around Mastery

Russell Westbrook in Sacramento's victory:

👑 23 points
👑 16 rebounds
👑 10 assists
👑 1 CLUTCH defensive play

First 20-15-10 game for Russ since May 16th, 2021! pic.twitter.com/rj65ycHTcR
— NBA (@NBA) November 6, 2025

Russell Westbrook, 37, who signed a one-deal year with the Kings in the offseason, showcased his vintage overall self against the Dubs. Westbrook dropped an all-round performance, stuffing stat the sheet in a highly-intense game despite missing the key stars, and recorded the 204th triple-double of his career. He now has the most rebounds by a guard in NBA hi story with 8,734 boards. Having finished the previous season at an average of 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists, fans and pundits weren’t expecting Westbrook to deliver such power-packed performances. However, now, his performance has validated the Kings’ decision to sign him.

Dennis Schroder’s Fourth-Quarter Heroics Sealed the Deal

Dennis Schroder emerged as the x-factor, as he erupted for 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, including 13 points in the final quarter. Schroder hit three 3-pointers in the 11-0 run that helped the Kings break a 104-all tie in the final quarter, and the Kings held on to win the opener of a five-game home series. Needless to say, the Dubs missed Curry, Butler or Green, and in that situation, they leaned on players such as Richard and Moody. However, Schroder’s scoring exploited the Warriors’ perimeter lapses, highlighting the Kings’ revamped backcourt depth.

Warriors’ Turnovers Woes Exposed by Kings’ Veteran Grit

Despite missing their top three vets, the Golden State Warriors’ young players showcased promising gameplay. Will Richard, in his first start, dropped a game-high 30-point performance. In fact, the young Warriors’ squad displayed commendable prowess despite being without key names. However, amidst a promising show, the Warriors’ 18 turnovers proved costly for the Dubs. The Kings, on the other hand, had veteran presence of names such as DeRozan and Westbrook. The Warriors dropped to 5-4 with the loss, underlining their dependency on star health, while the Kings improved to 3-5 ahead of their NBA Cup clash against the OKC Thunder.

Golden State Warriors

Russell Westbrook

Sacramento Kings

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.