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

What we learned as Kuminga’s career-high 33 fuels the 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 win Thursday night at the Chase Center.

Down Steph Curry (bilateral knee pain) and Draymond Green (left calf tightness) for damages, 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 shootouts on both sides, making every point added by Kuminga and Wiggins even more valuable.

The Warriors have had 13 clutch games through 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 crumbling down the stretch.

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

Collection of the pieces

When the Warriors are without Curry, others must provide more offense than usual. Kuminga appeared to be the one ready to step into the bigger role and enjoyed his second consecutive strong first quarter. Kuminga scored eight points on a mid-range jump shot and two 3-pointers to open the game.

But the offense stalled when he first got out. The Warriors were up 14-8 at the 3:44 mark when Kyle Anderson entered for Kuminga. The remainder of the quarter with Kuminga on the bench, the Warriors were then outscored 14-4 and trailed 22-18 in 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 3-point shot. But in the second, he shook off early rust and scored 12 big points on 4-of-5 shooting while making both free throws, including one on a four-point play.

Kuminga and Wiggins combined for 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.

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 step up in Green’s absence?

A handful of people it turns out.

Brandin Podziemski had no assists in the first half, but he had seven rebounds. Podziemski grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds in the end. Kevon Looney was a team-high plus-16 in the first half, grabbing six rebounds 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 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 ability to handle the ball, as well as his length and basketball IQ.

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

Attack the weakness

The Rockets selected Reed Sheppard no. 3 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, mainly for how he can light it up from long range. The only problem for him, and both the Rockets, is that Houston has a crowded backcourt. The fact that Sheppard entered the night making 33.3 percent of his threes makes it even more difficult 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 exposed defensively by the Warriors.

Several times in the first half, the Warriors put Sheppard in any action they could. He missed a three at the 8:40 mark of the second quarter, only to see 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 rest of the half.

Ime Udoka didn’t play Sheppard once in the third quarter, but used him to start the fourth quarter.

The real weakness that should make any warrior smile? Let Dillon Brooks shoot. The longtime Warriors nemesis took eight threes and made just two. Music to Dub Nation’s ears in a much needed win.

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