feature-image
feature-image

The Golden State Warriors responded the way they needed to. Two days after a heartbreaking last-second loss to the Phoenix Suns, the Dubs bounced back with a gritty 119-116 win on Saturday. Though a late collapse briefly loomed again, Golden State held firm against Devin Booker and company to snap a four-game skid. However, the momentum did not stop there.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

The Warriors’ head coach gave straight updates on Jonathan Kuminga and Horford, but his answer for Seth Curry’s injury update was rather interesting. Kerr not only refrained from revealing the nature of the sharpshooter’s injury but also stated that if he did detail the injury, it would confuse the reporters.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

“Al (Horford) will not play tomorrow. JK (Jonathan Kuminga) should be available tomorrow. He was here today, so he’s feeling better,” Kerr told reporters after the win. “Seth (Curry) is just dealing with a minor injury. I’m not even going to speculate on what to call it because I’ll just confuse you guys and myself. So he’s, but he’s dealing with a minor injury.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The franchise entered the game against Phoenix missing the likes of Jonathan Kuminga, Al Horford, and Seth Curry, all of whom were dealing with injuries. While Golden State could narrowly avoid defeat on Saturday, they need their key players back. And according to ESPN, Seth Curry, who has just joined, is dealing with a thigh injury.

article-image

Imago

Having said that, Seth Curry is currently on a day-to-day basis, and going by what Kerr mentioned, he should also be able to make a comeback against the Magic. This will be a huge boost for the Dubs, as even though Curry has only played two games, he’s averaging 7.0 points while shooting 50 percent from deep. So, what will the Warriors’ game plan look like amid these returns?

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

What will the Warriors’ game plan be against the Magic?

The Golden State Warriors entered their matchup against the Suns on Saturday shorthanded. However, as per Steve Kerr’s update, that won’t be the case on Monday night. So, will that prompt the championship-winning head coach to make some changes? Probably. While Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler will most likely assume their regular roles, the same cannot be said about others.

With Jonathan Kuminga back in the mix, there’s a chance Steve Kerr might put Draymond Green back at the five and slide him in place of Quinten Post. However, Kerr also loves to go with the Post, in Horford’s absence, because he can create space on the floor for Butler, which he used to his advantage against the Suns in their previous game.

ADVERTISEMENT

article-image

Imago

Butler finished the game with 25 points, 2 assists, and 1 rebound, and looked great. So, that might be something that might hold back Kerr from bringing in Kuminga in the lineup. Either way, the Warriors will be at a huge advantage against a physical Orlando team because they’ll be playing in front of their home crowd inside the Chase Center.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Dubs have been a completely different team when playing at home, as they are currently 8-4 when playing at the Chase Center. So, they’ll be right where they want to be when the Magic pay them a visit tonight. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler finally looks like the superstar player the Warriors expected him to be this season.

So, he will also help his team’s cause big time tonight. However, the Magic aren’t to be taken lightly as they’ve been pretty successful in the Eastern Conference this season. Still, if we were to pick favorites, it would be the Golden State Warriors, as we all await the tip-off for tonight’s cross-conference clash between the two.

ADVERTISEMENT

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Rishi Rajpoot

1,457 Articles

Rishi Rajpoot is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports with over a year of experience in digital sports media. Specializing in NBA and football coverage, his work has reached a wide readership, boosting fan engagement through timely reporting, player features, and game analysis. At ES, he collaborates closely with editors and social media teams to ensure his coverage resonates across platforms and delivers value to fans. Before joining EssentiallySports, Rishi contributed to football coverage at Cricfut, where his match reports and feature stories expanded the site’s digital presence. With a strong grasp of sports journalism, audience research, and digital strategy, he combines storytelling with an understanding of how fans consume sports online. Passionate about growing engaged sports communities, Rishi continues to bring sharp insight and energy to his NBA beat.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Md Saba Ahmed

ADVERTISEMENT