Warriors Face New Setback As Kuminga Exits Mavericks Game Injured

Golden State Warriors fans hoping for stability in the lineup were dealt another blow Thursday night as Jonathan Kuminga, freshly back from a lengthy bench stint, limped off the court with a left ankle twist and hyperextended knee during a 123-115 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas. For a player who had only just reasserted himself in Steve Kerr’s rotation, the timing couldn’t have been worse—both for Kuminga and a Warriors squad already reeling from the season-ending ACL tear suffered by Jimmy Butler III just days prior.

It all unfolded late in the second quarter, with just under four and a half minutes left on the clock. Kuminga, who had already sparked a first-half rally and notched 10 points in nine minutes off the bench, attacked the basket hard on a fastbreak. He drew a foul from Dallas’ Brandon Williams, but the aftermath was anything but routine. Landing awkwardly, Kuminga appeared to roll his left ankle and his knee buckled. He briefly sat in a courtside chair, then gathered himself to sink both free throws. Despite the pain, he gamely played three more possessions before signaling to the bench and heading to the locker room under his own power, trailed by team athletic trainer Drew Yoder.

The Warriors’ medical staff quickly diagnosed Kuminga with left knee soreness, ruling him out for the remainder of the contest. Initial tests suggested the injuries weren’t serious, according to a league source cited by ESPN, but the uncertainty lingered. Kuminga, who was visibly limping postgame, told ESPN he’d see how the knee felt Friday morning before deciding whether to undergo an MRI. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr echoed the cautious approach, stating, “I just talked to Jonathan, and he said he’ll get an MRI tomorrow. It was both the knee and the ankle, and we’ll see how bad it is.” As of Thursday night, Kuminga had not made a final decision on the MRI.

For the 23-year-old forward, the injury setback comes amid a turbulent period both on and off the court. After starting the season in the opening lineup and signing a two-year deal to end his restricted free agency, Kuminga’s fortunes soured. A mix of inconsistent play and team struggles saw him dropped from the rotation entirely, leading to a stretch of 16 consecutive DNPs. Frustration reportedly boiled over into a contract dispute during the offseason, followed by a formal trade request last week. League sources cited ongoing animosity between Kuminga and the Warriors organization, with the player seeking a fresh start elsewhere as the trade deadline looms just two weeks away.

Yet, the cruel irony for both parties is that Kuminga’s chance at redemption arrived only after disaster struck the team. Butler’s ACL tear against the Miami Heat on January 19th forced Kerr’s hand, and Kuminga was thrown back into the mix. He responded in style, pouring in 20 points in 21 minutes off the bench during Tuesday’s loss to the Toronto Raptors, and was well on his way to another standout performance in Dallas before injury intervened. “Exactly what he did,” Warriors superstar Stephen Curry said when asked what Kuminga needs to bring. “Pick and choose his spots when to attack. He made some great, [quick decisions], swing it to the open man. If he has a one-on-one situation with space, score the basketball. It’s a tribute to him staying ready.”

The Warriors, now 25-21 and on a two-game skid since Butler’s injury, are feeling the absence of their two best scoring wings. The burden has fallen squarely on the shoulders of Curry, who, at nearly 38 years old, delivered a vintage performance in Dallas—38 points on 8-of-15 shooting from deep. De’Anthony Melton chipped in 22 points in just 23 minutes, offering a much-needed boost. But the supporting cast struggled to find rhythm. The team shot a mere 34.7% from the field in the first half and only 6-of-25 from beyond the arc through two quarters. Dallas, meanwhile, capitalized on second-chance opportunities, outscoring Golden State 24-5 in that category and dominating the boards 54-35.

On the Mavericks’ side, Naji Marshall was electric, racking up 30 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds. Cooper Flagg added a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Max Christie knocked down five threes en route to 21 points. The Mavericks, now riding a four-game win streak, flipped a four-point deficit into a five-point halftime lead, thanks in part to a late second-quarter surge and Kuminga’s absence after halftime.

The Warriors briefly rediscovered their groove after the break, with Curry leading a third-quarter charge that saw Golden State outscore Dallas 17-7 to close the period. But as has been the case too often this season, inconsistency reared its head. The Warriors went more than two and a half minutes without a point in the fourth quarter, allowing Dallas to reel off 11 straight and seize control. Draymond Green, who finished with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists, fouled out with 3:50 remaining after a flagrant and a series of hard fouls. “It wasn’t his night, and he’d be the first to tell you,” Kerr admitted postgame.

As for Kuminga, his brief stint Thursday night was a reminder of what he can bring when healthy and motivated. He made all three of his field goals, converted all four free throws, and finished with a stellar plus-18 in just nine minutes. His final highlight—a soaring one-handed alley-oop dunk—showed the athleticism and energy that once made him a key piece in the Warriors’ plans.

But with his future in Golden State uncertain and the trade deadline fast approaching, the question lingers: will Kuminga get another chance to prove himself in a Warriors uniform, or will his next chapter unfold elsewhere? For now, the team waits on medical updates, hoping the latest injury is only a minor bump in an already rocky road.

Looking ahead, the Warriors will need to regroup quickly. They travel next to Minneapolis for a two-game set against the surging Timberwolves, with roster decisions looming and the playoff race tightening. Whether Kuminga is able to suit up—or if his Warriors tenure is nearing an end—remains one of the NBA’s most intriguing storylines as January winds down.