Warriors’ Curry Injury Sidelines Butler and Kuminga, Team Struggles in Game 3

The Golden State Warriors hoped that Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga could hold down the fort in Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but with Stephen Curry still sidelined, the duo couldn’t quite carry the team to a victory. Here’s a look at how the game unfolded.

Butler and Kuminga shine, but Warriors fall short

• Jimmy Butler: 33 points (12/26 FG, 2/4 3PT, 7/9 FT), 7 rebounds, 7 assists in 43 minutes
• Jonathan Kuminga: 30 points (11/18 FG, 3/4 3PT, 5/6 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals in 36 minutes

Together, Butler and Kuminga accounted for 63 of the Warriors’ 97 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win. While the duo put up impressive stats, the rest of the team struggled to contribute offensively. Buddy Hield provided some relief with a few shots in the second half, but the effort was far from enough.

Jimmy Butler was huge.
Jonathan Kuminga was great.
But apart from that? Too little around.
– TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr)

Where were the supporting actors?

Brandin Podziemski offered some resistance on defense but was largely invisible on offense, finishing with just 6 points. Draymond Green had a forgettable night, committing 6 turnovers. The Warriors missed Steph Curry’s sniper abilities, as the key sharpshooters struggled throughout the game.

Curry’s absence looms large

With Curry still out, expected to return in Game 6 (if necessary), the Warriors face an uphill battle in the series. They’ll need to find more contributors to share the workload with Butler and Kuminga if they hope to close out the series against the Timberwolves.

Looking ahead to Game 4

Steve Kerr will need to rely on more weapons to take some pressure off Butler and Kuminga. Potential candidates to step up include Gary Payton II, Brandin Podziemski, Draymond Green, and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Game 4 promises to be another crucial test for the Warriors.

Did you know?

Jonathan Kuminga has been on fire lately, averaging 23.5 points per game over his last five outings.

Leave your thoughts in the comments! How can the Warriors turn things around in Game 4?