The Golden State Warriors returned to the court on Wednesday following an extended hiatus due to the passing of assistant coach Dejan Milojevic. They secured a much-needed 134-112 victory against the Atlanta Hawks, and are set to face the Sacramento Kings in back-to-back games. Set to tip-off at Chase Center, the game promises to be high-stakes for both the teams involved.

Given the Warriors’ current abysmal season, a strong performance by the entire unit is crucial. Stephen Curry will be leading the team from the front, per usual. Rookie Brandin Podziemski, initially listed as questionable due to illness, was cleared to play and contributed 10 points, three rebounds, and two assists off the bench against the Hawks. He is expected to be available for the upcoming game against the Kings. If the energy from the game against the Hawks persists today, it won’t be much of a challenge for the Warriors’ side.

However, Moses Moody remains sidelined with a calf injury and will be re-evaluated in a week. In addition to Moody, the Warriors will be without Chris Paul and Gary Payton II. Paul, recovering from a broken left hand, will undergo re-evaluation in early February. Payton, who suffered a hamstring strain against the Orlando Magic, will be re-evaluated on Monday.

In the previous match-up against the Hawks, Stephen Curry contributed 25 points and eight assists, and Klay Thompson also had 24 points. The Splash Brothers both had five from beyond the arc. An emotional moment came when Steph pointed to the sky after the game to pay tribute to their beloved “Brate”.

Veterans aside, the game, essentially, was a Jonathan Kuminga show.

Jonathan Kuminga’s best career performance

Although the veteran players had their notable performances, third-year forward Jonathan Kuminga had a standout game, particularly in terms of efficiency. Kuminga achieved a flawless shooting record, going 11-of-11 from the field and scoring 25 points. This performance equaled Chris Mullin’s franchise record for the most made shots without a miss. “It’s been a tough week, Obviously, we kind of regroup with everything that was going on and went out there and just enjoy and just have fun and do what Deki would want us to do,” Kuminga said after the game.

Read More: 20,000 Serbian Fans Captivate Stephen Curry, as He Pays Tribute to “Brate” Dejan Milojević

Dejan Milojevic’s ultimate desire would have undoubtedly been for the Golden State Warriors to secure a championship. There could be no more fitting tribute than winning a title for their cherished assistant coach, who has positively influenced the team while working with them and beyond.

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