DALLAS — Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga twisted his left ankle and hyperextended his left knee on a second-quarter drive Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks, prematurely ending what had been a loud return to the rotation.
The team officially ruled Kuminga out with knee soreness. After initial testing on the ankle and knee, neither issue is believed to be serious, a league source told ESPN.
Kuminga came out well in Dallas, scoring 10 more points in nine minutes while helping lead a Warriors’ first-half comeback. They were plus-18 with him on the floor.
But Kuminga stepped awkwardly on an early second quarter drive, twisting his left ankle and hyperextending the knee. He was fouled on the play, made both free throws and temporarily tried to remain in the game. But after limping around the court for a couple of possessions, Kuminga asked out and limped to the locker room with a trainer.
The injuries comes at a notable time for Kuminga, who demanded a trade away from the Warriors last week but has reappeared in Steve Kerr’s rotation because of Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear on Monday night.
Entering the week, Kuminga hadn’t seen the court in 16 straight games, disappearing from the picture while letting his desire for a fresh start elsewhere be known.
But Kerr was forced to go back to Kuminga on Tuesday night and he responded with 20 points in 21 bench minutes, earning another opportunity on Thursday night against the Mavericks.
The trade deadline is two weeks away. Kuminga’s animosity toward the organization remains, league sources said, as does his desire to be traded elsewhere in the near future.
