DALLAS — Jonathan Kuminga was benched three times in the first 10 games of the season, leaving the 20-year-old forward to wonder why.
But Kuminga, the No. 7 overall pick last summer, has proved over the last three games, including a stellar showing Tuesday night in the Warriors 116-113 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, that he’s here to stay in the rotation.
Kuminga played so well that coach Steve Kerr ran with him into the final minute of the close Western Conference finals rematch.
Kuminga finished with his first double-double of the season, notching 14 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Kuminga’s recent surge is part of a revitalized second unit that has been stabilized with the insertion of Draymond Green.
While one of the early storylines had been centered on that grouping’s dysfunction and lack of cohesion, Green’s veteran presence has helped get them back on track. Tuesday was another example of that.
After the Warriors fell into a 12-point hole due to shoddy shooting at the end of the first, the Warriors’ second unit — Jordan Poole, Donte DiVincenzo, Kuminga, Anthony Lamb and Green — more than survived the non-Stephen Curry minutes which have been a huge problem this season. With Curry catching his breath from the bench, Golden State went on a 16-6 run to pull within four by the time the Warriors superstar was ready to re-enter the game.
Kuminga was especially a bright spot in the first half. Late in the second quarter, Kuminga went one-on-one with Doncic, forcing the Slovenian stud into a tough shot. Curry gobbled up the rebound and then found Kuminga on the other end for a dunk.
By half, the Warriors were down only 55-54. In a unique turn of event, all five of the Warriors starters had negative plus/minuses, while the reserves were all in positive, with the lone exception of JaMychal Green who was neutral.
The Warriors remained within striking distance of the Mavericks, though Doncic did his best to pull away, scoring 15 of his 41 points in the third quarter.
With the Warriors down five heading into the fourth, Kerr went back to his second unit, which garnered the magic again. Spencer Dinwiddie, who had 14 points, was ejected early in the fourth after being assessed a Flagrant 2 foul for elbowing Poole in the face. Moments later, Poole found Kuminga for a two-handed slam to give the Warriors a two-point lead. Poole, who finished with a season-high-tying nine assists, then got a steal for a dunk of his own to make it to complete a 13-4 spurt for the Warriors’ second unit.
The run forced the Mavericks to call a timeout and send back in some of their starters, including Doncic.
That’s when the momentum started to shift.
But the Warriors continued to stick with it. Kuminga hit a corner 3 and pumped his fist as his basket pulled the Warriors within 1, and then a Curry 3 made it 110-108. But the Warriors couldn’t hold on as the Mavericks squeezed out a win.
Six Warriors finished in double figure scoring. Curry finished with a team-high 32 points, five assists and five rebounds. Draymond Green added 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. The Warriors’ bench outscored the Mavericks’ 43-29.
The Warriors dropped to 11-11 on the season. They return to Chase Center Friday to host the Chicago Bulls.
