Warriors Reveal New Lineup Against Mavs: Is Kuminga Included?
The Golden State Warriors are set to unveil their 20th different starting lineup of the 2025-26 season against the Dallas Mavericks. This matchup will take place on Thursday. Notably, Jonathan Kuminga will not be part of the lineup despite having an impressive performance against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. In his return, Kuminga scored 20 points in just 21 minutes.
Warriors’ New Lineup Against the Mavericks
The Warriors’ starting five for this game consists of:
- Stephen Curry
- Brandin Podziemski
- Moses Moody
- Gui Santos
- Draymond Green
This will mark Gui Santos’ third start of the season. However, this combination has only seen action for 18 possessions this year, resulting in a concerning minus-12.1 net rating, according to Cleaning the Glass.
Kuminga’s Impact on the Warriors’ Strategy
Sam Esfandiari, host of the Light Years podcast, raised questions regarding the decision to keep Kuminga off the starting lineup. With Kuminga recognized as one of the Warriors’ most potent players in transition, his inclusion could enhance the team’s fast-break capabilities.
However, the dynamics with Draymond Green complicate this decision. Both players struggle with shooting, which can diminish spacing on the court. Current statistics highlight the challenges: the pairing of Green and Kuminga yields an offensive rating of 112.2, while their defensive stats stand at a respectable 111.0. In contrast, the combination of Green and Santos produces a strong offensive rating of 123.3.
Mavericks’ Struggles and Warriors’ Keys to Victory
The Mavericks are grappling with injuries, including:
- Anthony Davis (hand) – out for at least five weeks
- Kyrie Irving (knee) – likely out for the entire season
- Dereck Lively II (foot) – out for the season
- Daniel Gafford (ankle) – out for Thursday’s game
This situation presents a valuable opportunity for the Warriors to secure a victory. A significant factor will be controlling Klay Thompson, who has been on a scoring tear. In his last seven games, Thompson has made 32 of his 64 three-point attempts, averaging 17.4 points per game, a notable increase from his season average of 12.0.
Limiting Thompson and teammate Max Christie on three-point attempts will be crucial for the Warriors, as they look to capitalize on a winnable matchup.
