Jonathan Kuminga, bench power Warriors to victory over Lakers

The Warriors struggle against the Lakers' size but manage to win with a strong performance from their bench squad.

The Golden State Warriors faced a challenge in their game against the Los Angeles Lakers due to their lack of size on the roster. Despite their usual reliance on pace and high basketball IQ, the presence of seven-footer Anthony Davis posed a problem for the Warriors on both ends of the court, especially with Draymond Green sidelined with an injury.

The Lakers' length disrupted the Warriors' ball movement and brought back memories of their struggles on the road from last season. However, the Warriors managed to secure a narrow 129-125 victory at Crypto.com Arena, largely thanks to the performance of their bench players. Trayce Jackson-Davis' crucial block in the final seconds, initially called a foul but later overturned, played a significant role in sealing the win for the Warriors.

One player who stood out for the Warriors was Jonathan Kuminga, who continues to grow in confidence on the offensive end. He led the team in scoring once again with 26 points and showed no hesitation in taking open 3-pointers, making three of his five attempts from beyond the arc.

While the Warriors held their own on the boards, they struggled defensively against Austin Reaves and allowed Taurean Prince to heat up from 3-point range. The starting lineup of Chris Paul, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Kevon Looney had the freedom to play around 20 minutes each.

A notable highlight from the starters came early in the game when Curry passed the ball to Paul at the top of the arc, who then found Curry on the wing for a 3-pointer. This play demonstrated the chemistry between the two guards.

Unfortunately, Looney found himself in foul trouble early on and was limited to just 11 minutes of play. This opened the door for rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis to step up and contribute. Despite collecting four quick fouls, Jackson-Davis returned to the game later on and made a significant impact.

Brandin Podziemski carried his strong performance from the preseason opener into Friday's game, recording 10 points, 10 assists, no turnovers, and six rebounds. Some of his standout assists included a lob to Gary Payton II for a transition dunk and a behind-the-back pass to Jackson-Davis for an easy dunk under the basket.

Overall, the Warriors faced challenges due to their lack of size against the Lakers, but they managed to overcome them and secure a hard-fought victory. The performances of players like Kuminga and Podziemski showcased the team's depth and potential for success moving forward.