SAN FRANCISCO — With Steph Curry and Draymond Inexperienced each sporting sweatsuits at reverse ends of the bench Thursday evening, the Warriors had been going to wish alternate scoring choices with the intention to snap their season-long shedding streak and proceed a historic run of success in opposition to the Houston Rockets.
Inserted into the beginning lineup for the sixth time this season, Jonathan Kuminga understood the task.
An aggressive and environment friendly efficiency from the fourth-year wing helped information the undermanned Warriors to their first win in practically two weeks, 99-93.
Kuminga contributed a season-high 33 factors on 13-of-22 taking pictures — together with 15 within the ultimate interval — to go along with 23 factors and 9 rebounds from Andrew Wiggins as Golden State returned to the win column for the primary time since Nov. 22, snapping a skid of 5 straight losses.
The Warriors (13-8) haven’t misplaced to the Rockets (15-8) since Feb. 20, 2020, extending their profitable streak to fifteen regular-season video games, one shy of the longest lively run in opposition to one opponent within the NBA. They may have the chance to match the Knicks’ 16 straight wins in opposition to the Pistons subsequent week, when the groups meet once more in Houston for the following spherical of the NBA Cup.
By then, the Warriors hope to have Curry (knee) and Inexperienced (calf) again in lineup. Carrying a Golden State Valkyries jersey over his inexperienced sweats, Inexperienced missed his second recreation in a row and Curry his second recreation in a matter of weeks with ongoing illnesses, however coach Steve Kerr mentioned each might be again as quickly as Friday in opposition to the Timberwolves.
Enjoying with out their two stars for the primary time this season, the Warriors shortly constructed a 15-point benefit out of halftime that they by no means relinquished, regardless of lacking two-fifths of their typical closing lineup.
Houston pulled inside 2, 87-85, prompting Kerr to name timeout with 4:38 remaining, and Kuminga transformed a tip-in on the following possession to stave off the comeback try. Gary Payton II intercepted a move from Jalen Inexperienced with 1:07 left and arrange a Euro-stepping Kuminga to place the sport on ice.
Curry and Inexperienced each popped from their place on the bench to mob Kuminga after the Warriors referred to as his primary extra time, clinging to a 3-point lead with lower than a minute left, and he took his defender off the dribble and transformed on the rim to clinch the win.
Golden State improved to 24-39 all-time when enjoying with out each Curry and Inexperienced.
The Warriors took a 49-43 benefit into halftime, because of 12 second-quarter factors from Wiggins, who transformed his second 4-point play of the interval to permit Golden State to take its largest lead since halfway by the primary quarter into intermission.
Getting the beginning nod rather than Inexperienced, Kuminga got here out aggressive and scored a team-high eight factors on 3-of-7 taking pictures within the opening quarter. Regardless of connecting on solely 7 of their 22 photographs from the sphere within the first quarter, the Warriors didn’t path for the primary time till the ultimate minute of the interval.
Initially Printed: December 5, 2024 at 9:29 PM PST
