Without Steph or Draymond, the Warriors snap a losing streak vs. Rockets

On December 6, 2024By Littum

SAN FRANCISCO – With Steph Curry and Draymond Green both wearing sweats on opposite ends of the bench Thursday night, the Warriors would need alternative scoring options to snap their season-long losing streak and continue a historic run against the Houston Rockets.

Inserted into the starting line-up for the sixth time this season, Jonathan Kuminga understood the task.

An aggressive and efficient performance from the fourth-year wing helped guide the undermanned Warriors to their first win in nearly two weeks, 99-93.

Kuminga contributed a season-high 33 points on 13-of-22 shooting — including 15 in the final period — to go with 23 points and nine rebounds from Andrew Wiggins as Golden State returned to the win column for the first time since Nov. 22 . , snapping a streak of five straight losses.

The Warriors (13-8) haven’t lost to the Rockets (15-8) since Feb. 20, 2020, extending their winning streak to 15 regular-season games, one shy of the longest active streak against an opponent in the NBA. They will have an opportunity to match the Knicks’ 16-game winning streak against the Pistons next week when the teams meet again in Houston for the next round of the NBA Cup.

By then, the Warriors hope to have Curry (knee) and Green (calf) back in the lineup. Wearing a Golden State Valkyries jersey over his green sweatshirts, Green missed his second straight game and Curry his second game in as many weeks with lingering ailments, but coach Steve Kerr said both could be back as soon as Friday against the Timberwolves .

Playing without their two stars for the first time this season, the Warriors quickly built a 15-point halftime advantage that they never relinquished despite missing two-fifths of their typical closing lineup.

Houston pulled within 2, 87-85, prompting Kerr to call timeout with 4:38 left, and Kuminga converted a tip-in on the next possession to stave off the comeback attempt. Gary Payton II intercepted a pass from Jalen Green with 1:07 left and set up a Euro-stepping Kuminga to put the game on ice.

Curry and Green both jumped from their positions on the bench to mob Kuminga after the Warriors called his number once more, clinging to a 3-point lead with less than a minute remaining, and he took his defender off the dribble and converted at . rhyme to win.

Golden State improved to 24-39 all-time when playing without both Curry and Green.

The Warriors took a 49-43 advantage into halftime, thanks to 12 second-quarter points from Wiggins, who converted his second 4-point play of the period to allow Golden State to take its largest lead since midway through the first quarter at halftime.

Getting the starting nod in place of Green, Kuminga came out aggressive and scored a team-high eight points on 3-of-7 shooting in the opening quarter. Despite making just 7 of their 22 shots from the field in the first quarter, the Warriors didn’t trail for the first time until the final minute of the period.

Originally published: 5 December 2024 at 9:29 PM PST