Jonathan Kuminga’s future will be one of the subplots as the Sacramento Kings try to end a six-game losing streak when they visit the Golden State Warriors on Friday at Chase Center in San Francisco.
The Kings and Warriors have been engaged in trade talks involving Kuminga for months. ESPN reported the two sides talked again last week, suggesting the door to a deal remains open with Kuminga eligible to be traded Jan. 15 and the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline fast approaching.
The Kings (8-29) are spiraling toward one of the worst seasons in franchise history after being decimated by injuries. They have the second-worst record in the Western Conference and the third-worst record in the NBA after losing 16 of their last 19 games, including Tuesday’s 100-98 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Warriors (20-18) have fallen short of expectations so far this season, but they are still in the thick of the playoff race. They are currently eighth in the West after Wednesday’s 120-113 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, four games behind the Houston Rockets for the final automatic playoff berth.
Here are three keys to Friday’s game.
Stopping Steph
There’s really no stopping Steph Curry, but the Kings will want to force other players to make shots while making Curry work for the shots he gets.
Curry, an 11-time All-Star and two-time MVP, is averaging 28.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals. He is shooting 46.4% from the field, 39.2% from 3-point range and 93% from the free-throw line on 5.8 attempts per game.
Will Kuminga play?
Kuminga started the first 12 games of the season after re-signing with Golden State on a two-year, $46.8 million deal, but now the 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward has fallen out of the rotation entirely.
Kuminga, 23, has appeared in 18 games, averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 51.3% from the field and 33.6% from 3-point range. He has not played over the past 10 games, so it’s unlikely he will play against Sacramento.
3-point shooting
The Kings are shooting 30.1% from 3-point range during their six-game losing streak, down from their season mark of 34.3%.
Zach LaVine’s return from an ankle injury might help. In his first two games since coming off the injured list, LaVine has made 4 of 10 from long distance, shooting 40%.
Kings at Warriors
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Chase Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Warriors -12.5
Over/under: 230.5
Injury report
Kings: OUT — Keegan Murray (ankle); Daeqwon Plowden (G League); Domantas Sabonis (knee).Q
Warriors: PROBABLE — Gary Payton II (ankle). OUT — LJ Cryer (G League); Seth Curry (sciatic nerve); Malevy Leons (G League).G