Warriors Face Disappointment Despite Kuminga’s Return
In a game that ended in disappointment for the Golden State Warriors, forward Jonathan Kuminga made his long-awaited return to the court during a 145-127 defeat to the Toronto Raptors at Chase Center on Tuesday. The Warriors, coming off a quick turnaround from the previous night’s game, were without star player Jimmy Butler, who is sidelined for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL suffered just a day before. Coach Steve Kerr indicated that the team would need to lean heavily on its bench, which included Kuminga, who had not seen any playing time in the last 16 games until this matchup.
Kuminga’s Impact on the Game
Fans erupted in cheers when Kuminga entered the game to kick off the second quarter. Despite the team’s struggles, Kuminga showcased his scoring ability, ending the night with 20 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting over 21 minutes. He also contributed five rebounds and two assists to the effort. Notably, Buddy Hield stepped up as the leading scorer leading the bench with 25 points, including an impressive 6-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Game Progression
The game started off poorly for the Warriors, who found themselves trailing 41-28 after the opening quarter. Kuminga’s first stint saw him take the court for just under five minutes, during which he attempted one shot – an alley-oop tip-in set up by Draymond Green – but he was unable to convert and missed both free throws after being fouled. Kuminga ended that brief appearance with a minus-10 rating but claimed two rebounds.
As the contest progressed, Kuminga re-entered at the 6:12 mark in the third quarter with the Warriors behind 91-63. He made a significant impact by scoring 12 points in the period, including a powerful two-handed dunk following another alley-oop from Green, several contested mid-range shots, and a buzzer-beating layup that closed the gap to 108-94 by the end of the quarter. After this productive performance, Kuminga finished the third quarter with a plus-4 rating.
Final Quarter and Season Outlook
The momentum continued into the fourth, as Kuminga played the entire final quarter, helping reduce the deficit to as few as 11 points. However, despite their efforts, the Raptors ultimately pulled away, sealing the victory.
As of the 2025-26 regular season before this game, Kuminga had played in 18 games, averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in nearly 25 minutes per game. Overall, his career stats over five seasons show averages of 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds across 276 games. The return of Jonathan Kuminga provides a glimmer of hope for the Warriors as they navigate a challenging season ahead without Butler.
