What we learned as Kuminga’s career-high 33 fueled Warriors’ victory originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – In what was a preview of the NBA Cup quarterfinals between the Warriors and Houston Rockets, Golden State ended its five-game losing streak with a 99-93 win Thursday night at Chase Center.
Under Steph Curry (bilateral knee soreness) and Draymond Green (left calf tightness) due to injuries, Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins carried the load for the Warriors. Kuminga scored a career-high 33 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and Wiggins scored 22, giving them a total of 55 points.
In a game featuring two of the NBA’s best defenses, there was shooting on both ends, making every point Kuminga and Wiggins added even more valuable.
The Warriors have played 13 games in their first 21 games this season, including seven in a row and 10 of their last 11. This time they kept their opponent at bay instead of crumbling.
Here are three insights from the Warriors who broke their five-game losing streak.
Picking up the pieces
When the Warriors are without Curry, others have to provide more offense than usual. Kuminga seemed to be the one ready to take on that bigger role and enjoyed his second strong first quarter in a row. Kuminga scored eight points on a mid-range jump shot and two three-pointers to open the game.
But the offense stopped when he first came out. The Warriors led 14-8 at the 3:44 mark when Kyle Anderson came in for Kuminga. The rest of the quarter, with Kuminga on the bench, the Warriors were then outscored 14-4 and trailed 22-18 going into the second.
Then Wiggins turned it on. He scored just three points in the first quarter and missed two of three free throws after being fouled on a three-point shot. But in the second inning, he beat early rust and scored 12 big points on 4-for-5 shooting while making both free throws, including one on a four-point play.
Kuminga and Wiggins combined to score 25 of the Warriors’ 43 points in the first half. Just 53 seconds into the second half, a Kuminga layup forced a Rockets timeout as the Warriors led by 10 points. Through three quarters, Kuminga had 19 points and Wiggins had 18, as no other Warrior had more than eight points.
They then scored 18 of the Warriors’ 26 points in the fourth quarter.
Filling Draymond’s shoes
Finding points without Curry is just one piece of the puzzle. Who would reinforce Green’s absence?
A handful of people, it turns out.
Brandin Podziemski had no assists in the first half, but did have seven rebounds. Podziemski ended up grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds. Kevon Looney was a team-high plus-16 in the first half, grabbing six rebounds to go with two assists. He finished with 11 rebounds as part of his game-high plus-20. Then there’s Anderson, the ever-trusted veteran.
Green’s left calf injury has opened up minutes for Anderson again in each of the last two games after sitting out the entire second half two games ago in Phoenix. The Warriors needed Anderson’s ball-handling ability, as well as his size and basketball IQ.
Anderson played fourteen minutes off the bench and provided eight points, two rebounds and two assists.
Attack the weakness
The Rockets selected Reed Sheppard No. 3 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft mainly because of the way he can light it up from long range. The only problem for him, and for the Rockets, is that Houston has a crowded backcourt. The fact that Sheppard came into the night making just 33.3 percent of his threes makes it even harder for him to find minutes.
Sheppard played just under eight minutes in the first half, scoring five points while making one of his three three-point attempts. But the small guard was exposed defensively by the Warriors.
The Warriors called Sheppard into action several times in the first half. He missed a three at the 8:40 mark of the second quarter, but saw Buddy Hield hit a trey on him nine seconds later as Looney screened the rookie. Less than a minute later, Jalen Green replaced Sheppard, and the rookie never returned for the remainder of the half.
Ime Udoka didn’t play Sheppard once in the third quarter, but did use him to start the fourth quarter.
The real weakness that should make every Warrior smile? Letting Dillon Brooks shoot. The Warriors’ old foe took eight threes and made just two. Music to Dub Nation’s ears for a much-needed win.
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