Warriors Out-Splashed by Thunder on Thursday

In the third quarter, the Warriors cut a once 21-point deficit to one, but the Thunder regained control, defeating the Dubs 128-109 at Chase Center on Thursday. The Warriors were outshot in made threes (19 3PM - 14 3PM) and by percentage (59.4 3PT% - 35.0 3PT%). They lost their fifth consecutive game and dropped to under .500 on the season (6-7).

Starting in place of Draymond Green (league suspension), Jonathan Kuminga scored a season-high 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting.

KUMINGA REPLACES GREEN IN STARTING LINEUP
With Draymond Green sidelined for five games due to league suspension, Head Coach Steve Kerr inserted forward Jonathan Kuminga into the starting lineup. Headed into Thursday's game, Kuminga had played 11 games this season, averaging 11.5 points per game in 20.1 minutes. Kuminga displayed his full scoring arsenal in the preseason, finishing first in the league in total points scored (109) and second in points per game (21.8 PPG).

Kuminga was featured in the Dubs' offensive attack on Thursday, leading the team in scoring (21 points) and shot attempts (13 FGA). He had the highest field goal percentage of any starter on either team (61.5 FG%).

THUNDER WEATHER EARLY KUMINGA STORM
Kuminga scored the game's first five points, opening with a left-corner 3-pointer and throwing down a two-hand slam in transition. He finished the quarter with eight points and was perfect from the field (3-for-3). However, the Thunder were able to weather his storm, ending the first quarter on a 20-7 run to take a 15-point lead. The Warriors shot just 8-for-22 in the opening quarter and committed seven turnovers.

WARRIORS BATTLE BACK
With the clock winding down and halftime quickly approaching, Chris Paul made his move. He drew the defense, penetrated the paint and found an open Dario Saric for a corner 3-pointer. Saric's splash cut the deficit to seven and capped a 20-8 Warriors run to end the half. Saric scored eight points and hit two 3-pointers in the second quarter, while Moses Moody gave the team a lift off the bench with 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting as the Warriors outscored the Thunder by eight in the stanza. 

GUI SANTOS DEBUT
Gui Santos became the third Brazilian-born player to play in a game for the Warriors when he made his NBA debut on Thursday, joining Leandro Barbosa and Anderson Varejao. Santos scored his first NBA basket in the fourth quarter and grabbed three rebounds in just over three minutes of action.

GARY PAYTON II SPRAINS LEFT ANKLE
Early in the second quarter, Gary Payton II landed on Chet Holmgren's foot as he attempted to follow up his layup attempt after drawing a foul. Payton remained in the game to shoot his free throws but was quickly subbed out and headed to the locker room. He would not return, finishing with a point, a rebound and a steal in nearly eight minutes of action. 

PAUL PASSES GASOL FOR 40TH ALL-TIME IN GAMES PLAYED
Chris Paul played in his 1,227th NBA game on Thursday, passing Pau Gasol for 40th all-time in regular season games played. Gasol played in 18 NBA seasons and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, class of 2023. Among active players, only LeBron James (1,432 games played) has played more regular season games than Paul. 

Paul hit a season-high four 3-pointers, finishing with 15 points and eight assists on 4-for-8 shooting, 4-for-6 from behind the arc.

UP NEXT 
The Warriors will host the Thunder again on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. before concluding their six-game homestand on Monday against the Houston Rockets at 7 p.m.