The Golden State Warriors find themselves in a 3-1 series hole and will need a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight to extend their season. Jonathan Kuminga must step up and deliver, and has been itching for the opportunity to do just this.
Steph Curry’s injury changed the outlook of the series in a major way. The Warriors’ superstar remains out and is set to be re-evaluated with Game 6 as the hopeful target date. However, it will take Golden State needing to step up without him to even make this possible, and Kuminga will be a key part of this equation.
The Timberwolves enter Game 5 as 10.5-point favorites with -485 odds on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Warriors hold +370 odds of getting the outright victory with the game total set at 202.5 points.
With the stage set, here are my favorite Jonathan Kuminga prop bets for Game 5.
Best Jonathan Kuminga Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Jonathan Kumina’s props are listed at over/under 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 made three-pointers and 25.5 combined points, rebounds and assists.
Jonathan Kuminga Over 17.5 Points (-120)
Without Curry on the floor, the Golden State Warriors are starved for offense, and Jonathan Kuminga has been hungry to provide it. It has been a frustrating four-year tenure for Kuminga in Golden State. His role has changed regularly, and it does not take an advanced eye to note he has not been a clean fit in the Warriors’ unique offensive system. This has been a two-way street with Steve Kerr’s handling of the 22-year-old fair to criticize, while Kuminga has not shown much flexibility in his willingness to change his style of play.
But all feelings must be put to the side with the Warriors’ season on the line. Kuminga possesses the size and athleticism to match Minnesota, which has been a clear problem in this series. Curry’s absence has opened the door for more minutes with Kuminga, producing scoring outputs of 18, 30, and 23 in the three games since he went down. He is playing with a clear chip on his shoulder, and Golden State needs him to produce.
Beyond just the raw scoring numbers, Kuminga has attempted 42 field goals over the past three games. The 18 field goal attempts he tallied in Game 3 are tied for the sixth-most shots he has attempted all season. It may not be the most efficient pathway to getting there, but count on Kuminga to take advantage of his additional offensive leash and tally over 17.5 points for the fourth straight game.
Jonathan Kuminga to Record 25+ Points (+360)
To take things a step further, I like taking a swing on the +360 odds for Jonathan Kuminga to score at least 25 points in this matchup. His level of opportunity has been variable throughout his Golden State tenure, with this especially the case following the addition of Jimmy Butler. Kuminga clocked 20.8 minutes per game following the trade addition, after averaging 26.1 minutes across the start of the season. He also was a DNP-CD in four of the opening round matchups and played just over seven minutes in one of the games he did play. Steve Kerr has been open about not loving their fit on the floor together, but has little choice at this stage in the game.
Across the past three matchups without Curry, he has played 26:23, 35:52, and 29:31 in the three games since Curry went down. Kuminga continues to play with a chip on his shoulder and is doing everything possible to cement his standing among his NBA peers. This is especially notable with his upcoming free agency, where Kuminga has a chance to set himself up for a pretty payday.
Expect all-out effort from Kuminga tonight as he looks to help keep this Warriors team alive and put himself in good standing. He has all the tools and abilities to attack at will and is being allowed the chance to do so. The G-League Ignite product scored as many as 34 points in the regular season and is coming off a 30-point performance in Game 5. If there were a shot total prop for the 6-foot-7 forward, we would be hammering that tonight. But count on him to make the most of his expanded chance tonight and take a swing on the +360 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook for him to tally 25+ points is really solid value.
