After claiming a spectacular victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1, the Golden State Warriors head to Game 2 to extend the lead.
However, they will be without the services of Stephen Curry as players like Jonathan Kuminga could come to the forefront.
Curry left the game with a hamstring strain and will be out of contention to play for at least a week. After a revaluation following the recovery time, the team management will determine whether he’s fit and ready to drain some three-pointers.
Until then, the Warriors have other players who must step forward to give them an edge, and fans have remained curious regarding the next lineups.
To answer those questions, will Kuminga play for the Warriors tonight?
Kuminga Could Play Big Role for the Warriors
With the Timberwolves holding a clear size advantage over the Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga’s presence could be a difference-maker. He’s not listed as questionable and appears to be fully healthy, raising the question of whether head coach Steve Kerr will slot him into the lineup.
However, Kuminga has struggled to capitalize on opportunities when they’ve come his way. In a recent three-game stretch against the Rockets, he managed just one standout performance, failing to leave a consistent mark.
He averaged 6.0 points in those three games and had shoddy rebounding numbers with 1.7. Shooting at 30.4% from the field, replacing Curry with Kuminga, doesn’t paint a pretty picture.
With the stakes now significantly higher in the playoffs, Kuminga will need to elevate his game. If he doesn’t, his chances of cracking the starting lineup may quickly fade.
Kuminga’s physical tools could give the Warriors a much-needed edge, but his inconsistency makes him a wild card. With Game 2 looming, head coach Steve Kerr faces a key decision on whether to insert him into the starting lineup against a Timberwolves team eager to bounce back.
As the saying goes, when one star goes down, someone else needs to step up. In Stephen Curry’s absence, Jimmy Butler III and Buddy Hield have taken on that challenge, forming a new Batman-and-Robin duo.
Butler delivered a commanding performance with 20 points and 11 rebounds, keeping the Warriors steady even after Curry exited. Using his trademark playoff poise, “Playoff Jimmy” nearly notched a triple-double and stole the spotlight.
Hield, meanwhile, silenced critics with a strong showing of his own. He dropped 24 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc, showcasing the same confidence that powered his 33-point outburst in Game 7 against the Rockets.
For the Warriors to stay competitive, both Butler and Hield must continue to perform at a high level. As for Kuminga, the opportunity is there—but capitalizing on it will be crucial, with Kerr’s lineup decision hanging in the balance.
