Brandin Podziemski Credits Jalen Brunson for One Key Improvement

Free throws were a big part of the win in Minnesota on Wednesday night, and guard Brandin Podziemski wants them to be a bigger part of his game all season for the Golden State Warriors.

After the 119-114 win over the Timberwolves at Target Center, Podziemski was asked in a postgame interview with NBC Sports Bay Area where his knack for drawing fouls came from, and he pointed to the film room and a summer spent watching New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.

He said he watched a lot of Brunson tape this summer and came away believing that players who take a jump in this league do it by shooting a lot more threes and a lot more free throws, which is what he started doing in the back half of last season and is just trying to keep going.

Podziemski only made two of his five shots from the field, but he went 4-for-7 at the free throw line and finished with eight points, six assists and five rebounds.

Those seven free throw attempts were more than he had in his other two games this season combined, as he went 2-for-2 against Memphis and 1-for-1 in Denver.

Guard Stephen Curry led the way with 44 points, including a perfect 16-for-16 night at the line, and that huge night from Curry gave Golden State its second win in a row.

When he talked about why this helps the whole team, Podziemski pointed out that the Warriors are known for not getting fouled a lot.

"So for me, if I'm able to do that, just reset a possession and, you know, slow the game down a little bit, get the legs back under us. That's what we need," Podziemski said.

I really like that answer, because a trip to the line does not depend on a hot shooting night, and it gives a tired group a short break.

The Warriors looked thin during their rough 0-3 start, and they are still without forward Jimmy Butler and guard Moses Moody because of knee injuries, while center Kristaps Porzingis is out with an illness.

He picked a smart guard to learn from, too, since Podziemski told NBC Sports Bay Area earlier this month that he and trainer Dustin Van Lieu studied how Brunson handled the Spurs' full-court defense in the NBA Finals, which the Knicks won 4-1.

His back has already been an issue this season, as he sat out the opener against the Lakers with lower back soreness and later missed the game in Phoenix, but he has played in each of the last two wins.

The Warriors showed their belief in him by signing him to a five-year, $110 million extension on Oct. 10, and he has a real chance to grow into a bigger role next to Curry this season.

Golden State hosts the Lakers at Chase Center on Friday night in NBA Cup group play, and Los Angeles won the first meeting 127-105.

I think Podziemski getting to the line could swing that rematch, because the Warriors need a second guard who can create easy points when Curry rests.