The Golden State Warriors are on the brink of playoff removal after falling 110-117 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4, putting them on a difficult 3-1 hole.
With Stephen Curry on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, the Warriors will need to win Game 5 in Minnesota to keep their championship aspirations alive.
Despite the dire circumstances, forward Jonathan Cuminga has made it clear that the team remains optimistic in the face of adversity.
“The mood is still very high. We maintain hope. We maintain energy. Our atmosphere is still amazing.
“I think everyone’s thinking is very good. No one’s down,” Kuminga shared after the loss in Game 4.
Young Forwards highlighted the must-see nature of upcoming contests.
Kuminga took on a key role in Golden State during the series after receiving limited minutes in the previous playoff round.
The athletic forward led the Warriors with 23 points in Game 4, following an impressive 30-point performance in Game 3.
With Jimmy Butler struggling to carry only offensive loads, Kuminga appears to have won the trust of head coach Steve Kerr as a key scoring option.
In a desperate attempt to find a combination that works without curry, Kerr rolled out an unconventional non-point guard lineup in the third quarter of Game 4, featuring Cuminga, Butler, Draymond Green, Buddy Hailed and Trayse Jackson Davis.
The experiment proved disastrous as it overtook 17-39 at that critical time. However, Cuminga defended his lineup choice.
“I think Draymond was our point guard. He was a point guard for the rest of his life. We didn’t see any issues. It feels like things are going well.”
The Warriors are preparing for their next game. It could be the last game. This means that Kerr needs to find a way to help Kuminga score more points and find the best lineup to continue his attack.
