What can Warriors expect from Jonathan Kuminga in crucial Game 5?

MINNEAPOLIS Jonathan Kuminga has had a multitude of twists and turns during the - season He was a high-scoring reserve with oodles of anticipated then became an injured Warrior wrapped up in the club s midseason malaise After missing games the young forward returned from an ankle injury to form an uneasy pairing with trade-deadline acquisition Jimmy Butler then was out of the rotation entirely down the stretch and for much of the Warriors first-round seven-game series against Houston Since Steph Curry went down with a hamstring injury in Meeting of the Western Conference semifinals against Minnesota the Warriors have needed Kuminga to count to help fill the gaping hole Curry s absence has created Now the Warriors could add one more label to Kuminga s eclectic collection Savior With the Warriors facing elimination on Wednesday in Minnesota down - in the best-of-seven series they could use a big battle from the athlete who had been glued to the bench just a week or so ago Kuminga characterizes himself as just one of the guys but he understands the stakes Wednesday I mean the next match is going to be about do or die because we need that Kuminga explained If we get that one everything is going to be settled down It s a big one Kuminga has played in elimination games before including Match s at Sacramento in and Houston on May but has never had such a featured role On a roster that has to put it kindly struggled to generate any sort of watchable or reliable offense with Curry sidelined Kuminga has been a revelation He has scored and points in the past three games an output that does not surprise his veteran teammates How has Kuminga the seventh pick in the draft done it He s putting pressure on the rim getting out in transition attacking the seams when he can Draymond Green revealed I ve dependably declared he s a special talent Give the ball to him in his hands and let him figure it out that s what I expect him to do Related Articles Steph Curry ruled out for Warriors do-or-die Encounter Warriors fans can cling to long-held deal hope as playoff run sputters Warriors seek new formula to save season Without Steph the competition changes Where was Playoff Jimmy when Warriors needed him After an embarrassing Championship loss only a miracle can save the Warriors Perhaps Kuminga s greatest strength as of late has been his decisiveness Gone is the tentative participant who would hold the ball while looking to pass to his more established teammates before wildly throwing up a haphazard shot In his place is a tornado of athleticism a -foot- blur who drew free throws against a Minnesota unit that seemingly bottled up each Warrior but him In a matchup that often sees him encountering four-time Defensive Sportsman of the Year Rudy Gobert at the rim and all-defense lock Jaden McDaniels on the perimeter Kuminga has been able to get anywhere he wants Now the ultimate test will be to turn those gaudy point totals and breathtaking moves into a Warriors win and buy time for a practicable return for Curry on Sunday in Challenge if Golden State can extend the series We ve just got to go out there and figure out how to get it Kuminga explained