Golden State coach Steve Kerr hasn’t ruled out leaning further on Jonathan Kuminga as the Warriors continue adjusting to life without the injured Jimmy Butler when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.
Kuminga ended a run of 16 consecutive DNP-CDs (Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision) when he scored 20 points in 21 minutes in Golden State’s 145-127 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.
Kuminga, who last week requested to be traded, received a loud ovation from the home fans when he entered the game at the start of the second quarter.
It was the Warriors’ first outing since Butler’s season ended due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee one night earlier.
Butler’s injury has forced a shake-up, which has included the reintegration of Kuminga.
“Everything’s a possibility right now,” Kerr said. “When you have an injury to not only one of your best players, but one of the best players in the league, it just changes everything. The puzzle completely changes.”
Despite their differences, Kerr praised what Kuminga brought off the bench against Toronto, the fifth-year forward’s first on-court action since Dec. 18.
“He came in, had great energy, attacked the rim, made some shots,” Kerr said. “I thought JK was really good. It’s a great sign with Jimmy out, obviously there’s a hole at that spot on our roster. JK is going to factor in here again and really pleased with the way he stayed ready and stayed prepared. He got his opportunity and played really well.
“It’s been a month or so since he’s played. We haven’t had him at any practices. It’s hard to have any idea how someone’s going to play in that set of circumstances. But he was really good.”
Buddy Hield added a team-high 25 points against the Raptors, also off the bench, as Kerr’s second five spearheaded a third-quarter rally amid an arduous stretch.
“Third game in four nights,” Kerr said. “So for Dray (Draymond Green) and Steph (Curry) especially, I wasn’t going to chase this game and add up the minutes for them. With that second unit playing so well, it absolutely made sense to stay with them.”
Golden State will be facing a Dallas outfit playing some of its slickest basketball of the season.
The Mavericks are riding a three-game winning streak, capped by a 114-97 road victory over the New York Knicks on Monday.
Max Christie posted a season-high 26 points (including 8 of 10 on 3-pointers), while Naji Marshall had 19.
That triumph in New York came without the services of D’Angelo Russell (illness), Daniel Gafford (ankle) and P.J. Washington (personal). Anthony Davis (finger) also remained sidelined, the 10-time All-Star still about five weeks away from being re-evaluated.
“When you talk about the pace that set the tone for us, make or miss, we were playing fast,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “And then Christie came out — he was really good for us behind the arc, but also defensively. I thought that first group got us off to a good start on the offensive and defensive end.”
Rookie Cooper Flagg showed no signs of rust, scoring 18 points in his first game back after missing two with a sprained left ankle.
“I felt great,” he said. “Coming back, obviously I was a little restricted minutes-wise, but felt great out there. I didn’t second-guess or anything. Strength felt great. Obviously those two games I think were huge for us. The guys built some more continuity, offense started flowing and that was good carryover into (Monday).”
