Kumminga is becoming a mainstay for Golden State.

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics 132-126 on Tuesday night (Feb. 20) at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, in the 2023-2024 NBA regular season. The win extended Golden State’s winning streak to three games.

It was a hard-fought game. After trading points throughout the game, the two teams were unable to tie the game in regulation, sending it into overtime. Steph Curry was the star of the show in overtime. Curry went on a scoring tear in overtime to give Golden State 안전카지노사이트 the lead, and with 10 seconds left in regulation and a one-point lead at 127-126, his shot clock buzzer-beating three-pointer hit the rim for a 130-126 victory.

While Curry gets the lion’s share of the credit for the victory, there’s an unsung hero. Jonathan Cuminga. Kuminga had 17 points, seven rebounds, and two steals against Boston. While he scored well, it was his defense that really stood out in this game. He guarded Boston’s ace Jayson Tatum all game long. His defense put Tatum in a terrible slump, holding him to 15 points and 8 rebounds on 5-of-17 shooting.

Tatum wasn’t playing well, but Kuminga’s defense was too good. Cumminga used his physicality to relentlessly pressure Tatum, forcing him to take tough shots. He also disrupted Tatum’s ball handling with his constant trimming. Even in clutch time, it was Cumminga who defended Tatum. He was the one who forced overtime with a perfect defense on Tatum’s final shot just before the end of the fourth quarter.

In his postgame interview, Curry had nothing but praise for Curry. “I was able to make plays because of good defense from my teammates, including him,” Curry said.

After being selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Kuminga hadn’t found a home in Golden State. The Warriors were a powerhouse, and they were looking to win a championship. Kuminga, on the other hand, was viewed from the time he was drafted as a raw talent that would take time to develop. He had good size, but lacked skill and BQ.

There was no time to wait for him. Rather than develop him, the Warriors played him in wins and losses, in overtime, and didn’t give him time to showcase his quickness and penetration. Furthermore, Steve Kerr is a conservative coach when it comes to playing young players. There was no way Kerr was going to give the immature Kuminga any playing time or a significant role.

This season is different. Andrew Wiggins, a key resource for Golden State in the past, is having a terrible season. Add to that Draymond Green’s suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct, and that means Kuminga is the only forward Golden State has available. Kuminga has done a good job of pushing for playing time.

The best part is the defense. His defense this season has been incredible. Previously, Golden State‘s best perimeter defender was Wiggins. But he’s replaced him perfectly. It’s no coincidence that he defended Tatum in the game against Boston. His defense has been consistent throughout the season.

He’s starting to earn Kerr’s trust on the defensive end, and he’s gaining confidence on the offensive end. He’s finally utilizing his best attribute: his physicality. Including tonight’s game against Boston, Kuminga has scored in double figures in his last seven games. He’s averaging 12.2 points per game this season. At this rate, expect that number to rise.

Kuminga has been mentioned in trade rumors ever since he was drafted by Golden State. He’s a raw talent that takes time to develop, so he wasn’t a good fit for the Warriors, who were looking to win a championship right away. But Golden State’s brass stuck with him, and it’s finally paying off.