# Warriors' Starting Lineup Shifts Without Podz

> Warriors replace Podz with Melton in starting lineup for Lakers game.
- Title: Warriors' Starting Lineup Shifts Without Podz | Shortify
- Summary: Warriors replace Podz with Melton in starting lineup for Lakers game. Warriors start Melton over Podz for Lakers game after Podz's injury.
- Keywords: warriors, podz, melton, lakers, stephen curry, draymond green, deanthony melton, gui santos, yaxel lendeborg, al horford, charles bassey, graham ike
- Source: Golden State Warriors On SI — https://si.com/nba/warriors/onsi/warriors-projected-starting-lineup-and-rotation-with-podz-out-vs-lakers-01m5fpfrch07
- Published: 2026-10-21T17:53:20+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: warriors, podz, melton, lakers, stephen curry, draymond green, deanthony melton, gui santos, yaxel lendeborg, al horford, charles bassey, graham ike
## Podz Out for Season Opener
Brandin Podziemski will miss the season opener against the Lakers on Wednesday with lower back soreness.
## Starting Lineup Change
Melton replaces Podz in starting lineup for Lakers game.
## Rotation Impact
Podz's absence forces lineup changes and affects rotation minutes distribution.
## First 5 Mins Lineup
Curry, Melton, Santos, Lendeborg, Green play first 5 minutes of 1st and 3rd quarters.
## Next 4 Mins Lineup
Curry, Richard, Payton, Santos, Horford play next 4 minutes of 1st and 3rd quarters.
## Last 3 Mins Lineup
Williams, Melton, Niang, Lendeborg, Ike play last 3 minutes of 1st and 3rd quarters.
## Second Quarter Lineup
Williams, Richard, Niang, Green, Horford play first 4 minutes of 2nd and 4th quarters.
## Closing Lineup
Curry, Melton, Santos, Lendeborg, Green play closing 4 minutes of 2nd and 4th quarters.
## Minutes Distribution
Curry: 34, Lendeborg: 32, Melton: 32, Green: 26, Santos: 26, Horford: 24, Payton: 16, Richard: 16, Williams: 14, Niang: 14, Ike: 6.
## Key takeaway

Warriors start Melton over Podz for Lakers game after Podz's injury.