After a hamstring injury sidelined Stephen Curry, the Warriors needed the remaining players to bring their A game to tonight’s Wolves clash. A win at home could extend this series to Game 6, which is the expected timeline for Steph’s return. But the Bay Area team’s first half performance raised major concerns about their ability to stay afloat in their superstar’s absence.

The Warriors may have gone into halftime with a 42-40 lead, but don’t let the score fool you—it was far from a clean performance. Jimmy Butler single-handedly kept them afloat with an 18-point first-half explosion, while the rest of the squad struggled to find their rhythm.

Steve Kerr had problems brewing, especially with Brandin Podziemski, who couldn’t buy a bucket. The guard went 0-for-6 from the field, managing just 2 points and missing several wide-open floaters. His frustration was written all over his face—and on the stat sheet.

One play in the second quarter summed up Brandin Podziemski’s rough night. Sprinting down the floor on a fast break, he had a golden opportunity—an open lane, no Rudy Gobert in sight, and the paint practically begging for a bucket.

But as he pulled up for a seemingly routine floater, it clanged off the rim. No contest. No excuse. Just a brutal miss. Podz didn’t need anyone to tell him—he instantly buried his face in his hands, fully aware he’d just blown the easiest look he’d see all night.

Even Buddy Hield, who was coming off three solid performances, could not find the back of the net. He went scoreless in the first half, missing all three of his shot attempts. That’s a complete turnaround from his combined 72 points in the last three games. Unfortunately, Moses Moody and Quinten Post did not do any better either, as both players failed to contribute even a single point to the Warriors’ score.

Moreover, the Bay Area team could not utilize what has been their biggest weapon in the last decade—three pointers. With multiple players struggling, they made zero threes in the first half on just five attempts. Not something you would expect from the team that brought the three-point revolution to the NBA. Their underwhelming performance left many wondering who would share the scoring load with Jimmy in the second half. Fortunately, one man was there to answer the call – Jonathan Kuminga.

Jonathan Kuminga becomes the unlikeliest hero as he keeps Warriors afloat in Game 3

There was a reason Warriors were able to maintain their lead despite multiple struggling stars. That’s because Kuminga stepped up and carried the scoring load with Butler. He scored 12 first half points along with four rebounds. While Steph’s injury has felt like a curse to Dub Nation, it has come as a blessing for Kuminga. Well, he had slowly faded out of Kerr’s rotation in these playoffs, with Jimmy and Steph leading the charge.

Sure, he got a chance to suit up when Butler injured his pelvis in the Rockets series, but the youngster could not capitalize on the opportunity. Many believed his number would never be called again. And it might not have had Steph not gotten injured. With Curry out, JK finally got valuable minutes in Game 2, and this time he proved his worth. Although the Warriors lost, he finished with 18 points and five rebounds.

Even Kerr acknowledged his impact after the game, “Did a great job, I thought. I was very proud of just the way he’s stayed ready, stayed positive. This has not been an easy stretch for him, and he really came out there and did a great job today, kind of showing what he’s made of.”

Moreover, the head coach assured that Kuminga would continue to get minutes in the upcoming games. Tonight, the forward is proving his worth once again by keeping the Warriors afloat amid Steph’s absence. Do you think he can continue this form in the second half and lead them to an improbable Game 3 victory?