MILWAUKEE — Here are five observations from the Golden State Warriors’ short-handed loss in Milwaukee on Saturday night.
1. Jonathan Kuminga’s continued scoring outburst
Jonathan Kuminga, perhaps in anticipation of Draymond Green’s inevitable return this week, has faded out of the Warriors’ starting lineup to open this road trip. But back on Steve Kerr’s bench, Kuminga just delivered the best back-to-back scoring games of his career: 24 points in Chicago followed by 28 points in Milwaukee.
The Bucks rotated Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez on Kuminga in the second quarter Saturday night, believing the best way to defend him was sagging off with size. In one second-quarter burst, using his speed advantage with a more controlled approach in his third season, Kuminga used that extra space as a runway to gain an angle and power through Portis and Lopez for these three layups.
Despite opening the night as a reserve, Kuminga played 30 minutes. Steph Curry rested, missing his third game of the season, creating an extra need for Kuminga to use possessions and generate shots. He made two of his three 3s but rarely settled for the jumper, continually attacking that backpedaling Milwaukee scheme to produce a career-high 28 points on 18 shots.
“He’s feeling the spots to attack,” Kerr said. “He’s starting to understand spacing, feeling where the defense is. He’s not dribbling into traffic. No turnovers tonight. It just felt like he attacked when he should have and moved it on when that was the right play.”
The Warriors lost 129-118 to the Bucks. They were up two at halftime and kept it competitive until the final minutes but faded late without Curry, Green or Chris Paul to help close. They’re a wobbly 18-21 but should get Curry and maybe even Green back for Monday’s game in Memphis.
Green’s return will be attached to rotational questions. He enters a crowded frontcourt mix that includes Kuminga, Kevon Looney, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Dario Saric and the struggling Andrew Wiggins, who has crept back into the starting lineup but labored to a 3-of-13 shooting night in Milwaukee.
But it’s become even clearer than before Green left the team for his indefinite suspension that, regardless of who is available on any given night, this team — which is craving reliable scoring outside of Curry — must find regular minutes for the improving Kuminga, who has scored double-digit points in 19 consecutive games despite a fluctuating role.
“I wouldn’t say (that statistic) impressed me,” Kuminga said. “I had all summer to go out there and work out, get better, come back and help the team. Obviously, things haven’t gone the right way (in wins and losses). But you can see a lot of progress.”
Kuminga agreed with Kerr’s earlier assessment, saying the game has slowed down and he has stopped barreling to the rim without a plan.
“In the past, I’d just put my head down,” Kuminga said. “But now … if I attack and I don’t have nothing (there), I can’t score, kick the ball to someone who’s open.”
Kuminga has scored 284 points in the paint this season. No other Warrior has scored more than 200 in the paint.
“We’re showing him clips every day trying to get him to get to the rim,” Kerr said. “Especially without the ball. He wants to attack. Which is great. But we’re trying to get him to understand if he gets to the dunker spot, finishes his cuts rather than staying at the foul line, it improves our spacing and he’ll pick off two or three buckets per game getting to the dunker, going to the offensive glass and running to that spot in transition or after a screen. His tendency now is to linger on the perimeter. I want him at the rim. He’s one of the best in the league finishing when he gets the ball in the paint.”
Kerr tapped Brandin Podziemski to start in place of the resting Curry. In his hometown of Milwaukee, the rookie guard delivered, finishing with 23 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals. He had cheering sections all over the arena, including a suite right above the media section that was going nuts after Podziemski’s three stepback 3s.
“Ran into my seventh-grade English teacher pregame,” Podziemski said. “She said she’s glad I went to military school or else I’d be a troublemaker. … I was actually here the day this building opened. I was a sophomore in high school. I got to meet Giannis (Antetokounmpo).”
3. Stat of the night
The Bucks scored 46 points in the fourth quarter against a Warriors defense that held up decently for 36 minutes until it completely cratered. The Warriors have now given up 40 or more points in a quarter in four consecutive games.
The Warriors were depleted enough in the backcourt that Kerr went to Lester Quiñones, the young shooting guard on a two-way contract, for some extra scoring punch. Quiñones made a 3 and was actually a plus-9 in his 18 minutes. He’s been productive in the G-League this season and is considered an intriguing young player in their pipeline internally.
“I like Lester,” Kerr said. “He’s got some pop athletically. Can get by some people. He’s a great kid, brings good spirit and energy. Everyone loves him. He’s not afraid.”
5. Sound bite of the night
Curry will return Monday in Memphis, but it’s notable that the Warriors felt he was fatigued enough to give him a rest night.
“He’s wiped out,” Kerr said.
Curry has made only 36 percent of his shots and 34 percent of his 3s in his last nine games.
Steve Kerr on Steph Curry’s game off tonight: “He’s wiped out.” Curry will return for Monday’s game in Memphis. pic.twitter.com/ZnQ3Mo0eHZ
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 13, 2024
(Photo of Jonathan Kuminga driving against the Bucks’ Damian Lillard in the first half Saturday night: Michael McLoone / USA Today)
