The Golden State Warriors have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA since the trade deadline and they will look to extend their hot streak on Thursday night against the Orlando Magic.
Golden State enters Thursday night’s matchup amid a four-game winning streak and they have won six of their last seven games. Of course, the addition of Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline has turned the Warriors into a much different team in the second half of the season with him pairing up with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
While the Warriors will enter Thursday’s game almost fully healthy, they will be without Jonathan Kuminga once again. Kuminga has been sidelined since Jan. 4 due to a sprained right ankle.
It was reported last week that Kuminga had returned to practice, but he has yet to return to the Warriors’ lineup. On Wednesday, The Athletics’ Anthony Slater reported that Kuminga will remain out of the lineup against Orlando, but he has been scrimmaging and is at the final stage of his return from injury. Slater also reported that the young forward could return in the middle of Golden State’s road trip.
This is great news for the Warriors who would love to have Kuminga back in the lineup as soon as possible. While Golden State has had a great stretch while Kuminga has been out, he provides them with another great scorer and defender in their lineup, and he will also have to adapt to playing alongside Butler if Steve Kerr elects to continue to start Kuminga.
Before his injury, the 22-year-old forward was having a career-best season. He is averaging 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 45.9% from the field and 34.5% from three-point range in 32 games this season.
With Kuminga nearing a return, the Warriors will become an even better team and they may be a major threat in the Western Conference once the playoffs begin.
