What we learned as Kuminga scores 28 in overtime win vs. Kings

What we learned as Kuminga scores 28 in overtime win vs. Kings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – Despite the absence of Steph Curry and Chris Paul, the Golden State Warriors initially appeared disorganized in their game against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night. Falling behind by 15 points in the first quarter and 13 points at the end of the second, the Warriors managed to rally back and tie the game going into the fourth quarter.

The game remained even after regulation, leading to an exciting overtime period.

The young Warriors players demonstrated resilience, securing a 121-115 overtime victory at the Golden 1 Center.

Jonathan Kuminga continues to shine, scoring 28 points in this preseason match, making it his third consecutive game with the highest number of points. Kuminga is now averaging 26 points in the preseason. Andrew Wiggins also had a strong performance, scoring 20 points in just 22 minutes, while Klay Thompson added 12 points in 17 minutes. Thompson did not play after the second quarter.

Off the bench, Lester Quinones contributed 18 points, and Moses Moody scored 16 points, combining for a total of 34 points.

Here are three key takeaways from the Warriors’ third consecutive preseason win.

Wiggins Finds His Groove

In the first two games of the preseason, Wiggins scored a combined total of 15 points, with six points in the opener and nine points in the previous game against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Wiggins had a breakthrough in Sacramento, scoring 13 points in the first half and continuing to excel.

Although Wiggins had a slow start, with only three points on 1-of-4 shooting in the first quarter, he picked up momentum in the second quarter. He scored 10 points, contributing to the Warriors’ strong performance that narrowed the deficit.

In the third quarter, Wiggins added seven more points before concluding his night. With an impressive display of skills, Wiggins finished with 20 points, shooting 6 of 11 from the field, 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line.

An aggressive Wiggins is highly valued by coach Steve Kerr, and he proved his value in Sacramento.

Free-Throw Wizardry by Kuminga

Kuminga showcased his scoring ability once again in this game, even if his overall efficiency took a slight dip. Prior to this matchup, Kuminga had been shooting 65.4 percent from the field (17 of 26) and 53.8 percent from beyond the arc (7 of 13).

Although he struggled with his shooting in this game, going 7 of 18 and making only one of his four attempts from 3-point range, Kuminga made up for it at the free-throw line.

Throughout the game, Kuminga attacked the basket and earned numerous trips to the charity stripe. He attempted 17 free throws and made 13 of them. In the previous two preseason games, he had only attempted 12 free throws.

So far in the preseason, Kuminga has an impressive 75.9 percent shooting accuracy (22 of 29) from the free-throw line. This marks an improvement compared to his 68.4 percent as a rookie and 65.2 percent last season. His progress in this area bodes well for his effectiveness on the court.

Lack of Ballhandlers

Due to the absence of Curry, Paul, Draymond Green, and Cory Joseph, the Warriors faced a shortage of ball handlers, which was evident throughout the game. In the first quarter, the team only managed to record six assists, while Kings’ star point guard De’Aaron Fox alone had four assists.

By the end of the game, the Warriors had a total of 18 assists and 13 turnovers. Although the Warriors committed fewer turnovers than the Kings, Sacramento capitalized on the Warriors’ mistakes, scoring 21 points off turnovers.

Brandin Podziemski and Quinones led the Warriors with four assists each.

This game served as a challenging test for Kerr’s team, providing valuable learning experiences.

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