The Golden State Warriors are aiming to bounce back in a massive way with Game 6 of their first-round series coming.
The club suffered a blowout loss to the Houston Rockets in Game 5, pushing their lead to just 3-2 after failing to close the series out in five games.
Golden State was dominated by halftime, giving them the majority of the second half to rest their key players.
Jimmy Butler, who suffered a nasty fall and pelvic injury in Game 2, certainly benefited from the rest, as did Stephen Curry and Draymond Green — as the Warriors’ core is older stars.
Houston aims to extend the series, returning back to their home floor to try and take down the Warriors.
Golden State was without one piece of depth against the Rockets in Game 5, however, as young forward Jonathan Kuminga was absent with an illness.
The former lottery selection has plenty of buzz around his name after falling out of the rotation late in the season — though he’s logged one playoff start when Butler was absent.
Steve Kerr offers Kuminga update
Evidently, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr revealed that Kuminga simply had a migraine — hence the illness tag — and will be good to go for Game 6.
While Kuminga isn’t in the rotation, he provides depth as a tall, athletic wing, which might be of service for Kerr, as Golden State has struggled with the Rockets’ size and physicality.
Regardless, the Warriors will want to close out Houston in the Bay Area, not offering any more optimism that the Rockets can erase Golden State’s 3-1 lead entirely.
With Curry, Butler and Green rested — with Kuminga back on the bench — the Warriors need to be ready to go in Game 6 to advance to the second round, as the winner of the series will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.