Will three-time All-Star Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis ascendant young Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga suit up for nationally televised battle of Northern California franchises?
Heading into Thursday’s clash between the 37-28 Warriors (the Western Conference’s No. 6 seed) and the 33-31 Kings (the No. 9 seed), Sabonis saw his status upgraded to questionable during a morning NBA injury report.
The 6-foot-10 big man has been sidelined since Sacramento’s 113-103 victory over the Houston Rockets on March 1 due to a left hamstring strain.
Domantas Sabonis (hamstring) listed out Thursday.
— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) March 13, 2025
Kings shooting guard Mason Jones and power forward/center Skal Labissiere are both on the shelf while putting in reps with Sacramento’s G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings.
This morning, Kuminga was considered probable to play his first game in over two months. He suffered a sprained right ankle during the Warriors’ 121-113 victory against another West contender, the Memphis Grizzlies, on Jan. 4.
Read More: Warriors Set to Welcome Back Forward Jonathan Kuminga
Now, Kuminga’s fate has been revealed. Per Underdog NBA, Kuminga will play, but head coach Steve Kerr intends to limit his minutes in his first game back.
Lineup alert: Jonathan Kuminga (ankle) won’t play a “huge number” of minutes Thursday, per coach Kerr.
— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) March 14, 2025
Across his 32 healthy bouts this season, the 6-foot-8 pro was making a case to earn a massive raise in restricted free agency this summer. In his 32 healthy games, the 22-year-old has been averaging 16.8 points on .459/.345/.639 shooting splits, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists for Golden State.
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Kuminga will be joining a very different Warriors squad. The team offloaded forwards Andrew Wiggins — a critical part of their 2022 championship core — and Kyle Anderson, plus draft equity, as part of a massive deal with the Miami Heat to add six-time All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler, a former teammate of Golden State team president Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Read More: Warriors Acquiring Jimmy Butler in Blockbuster Trade with Heat
Since the trade became official on Feb. 6, Golden State has gone 12-3. The Warriors are currently riding high on a five-game win streak, and are eyeing a potential top-four seed in the West.
Elsewhere on the Warriors’ most recent injury report, guard Brandin Podziemski is on the shelf with a bilateral low back strain. Combo guard Gary Payton II, however, will play through his bilateral nasal bone fracture while wearing the facemask he has adorned for a while now.
In 56 healthy bouts this season, Sabonis is averaging 19.5 points on .596/.432/.747 shooting splits, 14.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 0.6 steals a night as the Kings’ franchise player.
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Sacramento fired head coach Mike Brown midway through the year, elevating interim coach Doug Christie in the process.
The Kings then ditched All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in a multi-team deal after he demanded a trade, and received several first-round draft picks and two-time former Chicago Bulls All-Star shooting guard Zach LaVine in the offing.
Sacramento has looked thoroughly mediocre since making the move, and appears destined to make the play-in tournament for the second straight season.
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