Why timing of Kuminga’s ankle damage is brutal for him, Warriors initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space
SAN FRANCISCO – Timing is all the pieces, and it couldn’t be worse for Jonathan Kuminga to overlook a number of weeks as a result of an damage – each for the participant and the group.
The Warriors on Sunday forward of their recreation towards the Sacramento Kings introduced an MRI earlier within the day revealed Kuminga sustained a big lateral sprain to his proper ankle in Golden State’s win towards the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night time and he can be re-evaluated in three weeks.
Kuminga exited with 2:27 left within the second quarter after coming down from trying to dam a shot, the place he then took a tough fall from rolling his proper ankle on Brandon Clarke’s proper foot, and Jake LaRavia’s left foot.
Upon his fall, Kuminga instantly motioned to the Warriors bench, limped to the locker room and didn’t return for the remainder of the sport.
“Brutal,” Kerr mentioned Sunday throughout his pregame press convention. “JK’s been enjoying so nicely and clearly is such an enormous a part of what we’re doing. He’s our most athletic scorer, finisher, and he’s been enjoying so nicely. It’s a troublesome one.”
On the time of his early exit, Kuminga was the Warriors’ main scorer, already dropping 13 factors in quarter-hour off the bench on 4-of-6 taking pictures, in addition to going 3 of three from 3-point vary. In his earlier six video games which included back-to-back 34-point performances, Kuminga was averaging 24.3 factors on 52.7/35.0/71.7 taking pictures splits, whereas additionally grabbing 8.0 rebounds per recreation.
Now, the Warriors can be with out that type of manufacturing for no less than the subsequent 11 video games. Kerr once more should pull from his depth at a time when he was beginning to discover a agency nine-man rotation.
“We do be ok with our depth and our potential to face up to his loss,” Kerr mentioned. “Kyle [Anderson], Moses [Moody], these guys will get extra of a chance and I’m enthusiastic about that.”
Anderson, in his first season for the Warriors however his eleventh general within the NBA, has been out and in of Kerr’s rotation. He obtained 5 DNPs (Did Not Play) in December, after which performed a key function down the stretch of the Warriors’ win towards the Grizzlies, a group Anderson spent 4 seasons enjoying for. The versatile veteran ahead did a terrific job guarding Jaren Jackson Jr. as Kuminga was icing his ankle within the locker room and wound up enjoying 22 minutes off the bench, his second-most your entire season.
Doing a little bit of all the pieces, Anderson had seven factors, three rebounds and three assists, in addition to two blocks and a steal.
Moody in his final three video games has averaged quarter-hour off the bench and 13.0 factors, making 13 of his 16 photographs general and 9 of his 12 3-point makes an attempt.
One other participant who in fact should step up as a major scorer is Andrew Wiggins. Within the first half Saturday night time, Wiggins had scored simply two factors on 1-of-6 taking pictures and had missed all 4 of his tries from three. However with Kuminga gone for the night time, Wiggins turned it on by scoring 22 factors within the second half, together with 18 alone within the third quarter.
“It places extra of a scoring burden on Wiggs’ shoulders,” Kerr mentioned. “However he’s up for that. Each recreation goes to really feel totally different. Each recreation goes to be totally different based mostly on matchups. It’s on all of us to determine what’s wanted recreation to recreation, however Wiggs will certainly tackle an enormous burden.”
Maybe the toughest a part of Kuminga’s damage is that it comes almost precisely one month from the Feb. 6 NBA commerce deadline. This previous few weeks, and this subsequent month, is an ever-important analysis course of for Kuminga. For him, the Warriors and your entire league. He’s the Warriors’ most intriguing younger commerce piece, but all indications recently have been the Warriors desire to carry onto the 22-year-old with immense potential.
Kuminga didn’t obtain a rookie contract extension over the offseason and is slated to enter restricted free company this summer time. On the season, Kuminga now’s averaging a career-high 16.8 factors per recreation. His 5.0 rebounds per recreation are also a career-high, and his 2.2 assists per recreation are additionally tied for the most effective of his four-year profession.
The Warriors’ depth has been praised all season lengthy. Others will reply the decision in Kuminga’s absence. His damage, nevertheless, is about way more than who will now obtain a lift in enjoying time.
His return ought to include just a few video games left to showcase himself forward of the commerce deadline, for each his present group and presumably his future group, too.
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