The Golden State Warriors continue to roll in the Jimmy Butler era, beating the Sacramento Kings 130-104 at Chase Center on Thursday. The win wasn’t the only cause for celebration on the night, as Jonathan Kuminga also made his much-awaited return to the court after being sidelined for over two months due to a right ankle sprain.
Kuminga suffered that injury against the Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 4 and managed to put in an impressive performance on his return. He finished with 18 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal off the bench, and Butler certainly liked what he saw. He was full of praise for Kuminga in his postgame press conference.
“I love that my man came out there and was aggressive,” Butler said, via Anthony Slater. “Putting the ball in the basket, high energy, jumping out of the gym and dunking the basketball. I want him to be him to the best of his abilities, continually be great, and help this squad achieve something special.”
Jimmy Butler on Jonathan Kuminga
“High energy. Jumping out the gym, dunking the basketball. I want him to be him.” pic.twitter.com/dPYXUjNyYQ
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 14, 2025
The Warriors certainly would love for this version of Kuminga to show up on a nightly basis. The 22-year-old was active and aggressive and helped the team improve to 38-28 this season.
This was the sixth win in a row for the Warriors, and it was the most impressive of the lot in some ways. A total of eight players scored in double digits, and Butler wasn’t even one of them. The 35-year-old finished with just six points, five rebounds, seven assists and a steal on the night, and the Warriors still won by 26 points.
Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
While Butler has not put up consistently big numbers since joining the Warriors, he has still managed to elevate this team with his presence. They are now 13-1 with him in the lineup and will look for yet another win when they take on the New York Knicks at Chase Center on Saturday.