“Let the young fella rock” — Dwyane Wade's advice shows up early as kuminga scores 12 in first half

Before Game 3 between the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves , Wade stressed that the Warriors should use Jonathan Kuminga more. It seems the Warriors listened, as Kuminga had a strong first half, putting up 12 points and making a big impact on both offense and defense. Unfortunately, despite Kuminga's solid play, the Warriors lost to the Timberwolves 102–97, showing how tough it is to compete without their star, Stephen Curry .

Jonathan Kuminga answers Dwyane Wade ’s call with early spark in Warriors' Game 3 effortSince Stephen Curry was sidelined with a left hamstring strain, the Warriors were in need of a standout player, and Jonathan Kuminga stepped up big time. He put up a playoff career-high of 30 points off the bench, hitting 11 of 18 shots and 3 of 4 from downtown. He also added six rebounds and two blocks, showing off his versatility. Kuminga's aggressive style and solid defense were crucial in keeping the Warriors competitive.

On his WY Network podcast, Dwyane Wade highlighted that the Warriors need to showcase Kuminga more, "I need to see a little different game plan... I need to see a game plan that obviously features Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga. I need to see Jonathan Kuminga get featured because he is one guy on that side (Minnesota) that cannot guard." The Warriors appeared to heed this advice, as Kuminga's early contributions helped them secure a 42–40 lead at halftime.

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Even though Kuminga and Jimmy Butler had great games, with Butler scoring 33 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing out seven assists, the Warriors couldn't hold onto their lead in the fourth quarter. Anthony Edwards was on fire for the Timberwolves, netting 28 of his 36 points in the second half. Julius Randle also stepped up with a triple-double, putting up 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. In the end, the Timberwolves' strong finish gave them a 2–1 series lead.

The Warriors' loss highlights the difficulties of playing without Stephen Curry and emphasizes the need for tactical changes. Kuminga's impressive performance is a positive takeaway, but the team must learn to seal the deal in games. Moving forward in the series, the Warriors should focus on their advantages and improve on their shortcomings to remain in the game.

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On Monday at Chase Center, Game 4 will take place, and the Warriors are hoping to level the series and pick up some momentum.