The Golden State Warriors faced a challenging back-to-back weekend, hosting the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night after dropping to .500 with a loss on Friday. The game brought an extra layer of intensity as the Warriors squared off against a franchise legend and one of the NBA’s all-time great forwards, Kevin Durant.
While Durant delivered a strong performance with 31 points, it was the Warriors’ homegrown talent, Jonathan Kuminga, who stole the spotlight. Kuminga, the player Golden State hopes can help fill the void left by Durant, delivered an outstanding game, standing out among a roster filled with future Hall of Famers.
Kuminga also shined in Friday’s loss, prompting head coach Steve Kerr to discuss how the coaching staff is working to optimize his role alongside a healthy Steph Curry. Saturday’s game saw Kuminga contributing on both ends of the court, complementing the defensive efforts of Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins to limit Durant’s efficiency. Despite KD’s scoring, the Suns’ superstar shot just 10-for-24 and committed eight turnovers.
Key absences for Phoenix—Devin Booker (injury) and Jusuf Nurkić (suspension)—further tipped the scales. The Warriors capitalized on a strong fourth quarter, outscoring the Suns 27-18 to secure a narrow 109-105 victory. The win lifts the Warriors above .500 with a 16-15 record, giving them momentum as they prepare to host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night.
