SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors faced a setback on Saturday night as forward Jonathan Kuminga sprained his right ankle. Coach Steve Kerr indicated that Kuminga is likely to be sidelined for a while.
The injury occurred in the latter moments of the first half during the Warriors’ 121-113 win against the Memphis Grizzlies. Kuminga attempted to block a shot but came down awkwardly, leading to the sprain. An MRI is scheduled to assess the severity of the injury.
With Kuminga out, Kerr mentioned that Kyle Anderson will see increased playing time. “It’s not just a minor issue; it’s a significant sprain,” Kerr remarked. “We will have more information after tomorrow.”
The Warriors are set to take on the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, marking another back-to-back game in their schedule.
Before his injury, Kuminga was contributing significantly to the team, being the second-highest scorer with an average of 16.9 points per game. However, he was limited to just 13 points in 15 minutes against Memphis.
“It’s going to be tough,” Kerr stated regarding Kuminga’s absence. “He has been playing the best basketball of his career recently, so we will certainly miss him. Yet, I have faith that Kyle will step up in his place.”
Anderson logged over 21 minutes in the game, scoring seven points and assisting three times while also grabbing three rebounds. Despite inconsistent playing time, he is prepared for this chance.
“I’ve been putting in the work during my minutes on the bench,” Anderson said, sharing his experience of similar situations in the past. “I’ve been in this position a couple of times in my career, and I’ve consistently broken into the playoff rotation. My goal is to support my teammates, improve my gameplay, and seize the moment when I’m called upon.”
The Warriors are no strangers to dealing with injuries this season, relying on their deep roster to navigate challenges.
“I’m grateful for the depth we have, particularly with Kyle,” Kerr emphasized. “We’ve built our roster to withstand injuries, and this is exactly why we focused on depth.”