What we learned as Kuminga’s career-high 33 fuels Warriors’ win

What we learned as Kuminga’s career-high 33 points fuel 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 the Houston Rockets, Golden State ended its five-game losing streak with a 99-93 victory Thursday night at Chase Center.

Below Steph Curry (bilateral knee pain) and Draymond Green (left calf tightness) 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 combined 55 points.

A game featuring two of the NBA’s best defenses saw shooting issues on both sides, making every point Kuminga and Wiggins added even more valuable.

The Warriors have played 13 decisive games in their first 21 games this season, including seven in a row and 10 of their last 11. This time, they held off their opponent instead of falling apart down the stretch.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors snapping their five-game losing streak.

Picking up the pieces

Whenever the Warriors are without Curry, others must offer more offense than usual. Kuminga looked like the one ready to take on that bigger role, enjoying his second straight first quarter. Kuminga scored eight points with a mid-range jumper and two 3-pointers to open the game.

But the offense stalled when he first came out. The Warriors were up 14-8 at the 3:44 mark when Kyle Anderson came on for Kuminga. The rest of the quarter with Kuminga on the bench, the Warriors were outscored 14-4 and trailed 22-18 heading into the second.

That’s when 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, he shook off the early rust and scored 12 big points on 4-of-5 shooting and made 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 timeout for the Rockets as the Warriors led by 10 points. Through three quarters, Kuminga scored 19 points and Wiggins 18, as no other Warrior had more than eight.

They then scored 19 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 was going to intensify Green’s absence?

It turns out that they are a handful of people.

Brandin Podziemski did not have any assists in the first half, but he did have seven rebounds. Podziemski ultimately had 12 rebounds, the most of his career. Kevon Looney was a team-high +16 in the first half, grabbing six rebounds and two assists. He finished with 11 rebounds as part of his game-high plus-20. Then there’s Anderson, the always-trusted veteran.

Green’s left calf injury has opened up minutes again for Anderson in each of the last two games after sitting the entire second half two games ago in Phoenix. The Warriors needed Anderson’s ball-handling ability, as well as his length and basketball IQ.

Anderson played 14 minutes off the bench and contributed eight points, two rebounds and two assists.

Attack the weakness

The Rockets selected Reed Sheppard third overall in the 2024 NBA Draft primarily for his ability to shine from long range. The only problem for him, and the Rockets alike, is that Houston has a crowded backcourt. The fact that Sheppard started the night making a lowly 33.3 percent of his 3-pointers makes it even harder for him to find minutes.

Sheppard played just under eight minutes in the first half and scored five points while making one of his three 3-point attempts. But the small guard was left exposed on defense by the Warriors.

Several times in the first half, the Warriors put Sheppard in every action they could. He missed a 3-pointer at the 8:40 mark of the second quarter, only to see Buddy Hield hit a 3-pointer nine seconds later as Looney guarded the rookie. Less than a minute later, Jalen Green replaced Sheppard and the rookie never returned for the rest of the half.

Ime Udoka didn’t play Sheppard even once in the third quarter, but he did use him to start the fourth quarter.

The real weakness that had to make every Warrior smile? Let Dillon Brooks shoot. The Warriors’ old enemy took eight three-pointers and only made two. Music to Dub Nation’s ears on a much-needed victory.

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