Kuminga's defense and corner threes drive Timberwolves past Rockets
The forward's 16-point performance included key stops and a 46.3% three-point rate as Minnesota secured the win in Houston.
By Nadia Rahman ·
Jonathan Kuminga scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out five assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. The Timberwolves entered the final three minutes of the game trailing by two points, but a sequence of plays involving Kuminga and Ayo Dosunmu shifted the momentum in Minnesota's favor.
The turning point began when Dosunmu passed to Kuminga in the corner. Kuminga released an open three-pointer that went in. On the next possession, Dosunmu missed a corner attempt, but Rudy Gobert deflected the ball off the rim. Kuminga recovered the loose ball and tipped it into the basket to extend the lead to seven points.
Kuminga continued to impact the game on both ends of the floor. With Houston moving the ball in transition, Kuminga sprinted back to the paint and closed out on Kevin Durant, forcing a turnover. He then hit another three-pointer to push Minnesota's lead to eight points.
Coach Chris Finch described Kuminga's contribution as essential to the team's current success. Finch stated that Kuminga continues to play the perfect role by doing everything the team needs in a timely manner. The coach noted that the Timberwolves would be lost without his efforts right now.
Kuminga's defensive metrics support his on-court impact. Opponents shoot just 38% from the field when guarded by him. He leads the Timberwolves in blocked shots with nine and ranks fourth on the team in rebounding with an average of 5.7 per game. Finch said the team signed Kuminga in August specifically to handle the physical aspects of the game, including running the floor and guarding at a high level.
Offensively, Kuminga does not demand the ball, ranking seventh on the team with a usage percentage of 16.1%. However, he is efficient with the shots he receives. He is tied for 10th in the NBA in three-point shooting accuracy at 46.3%. He also holds a tie for second in the league in corner three-point shooting, making 13 of his 26 attempts from that spot.
Kuminga told reporters on Wednesday that his goal is to make the lives of his teammates easier. He acknowledged that the team has many players who can score and said he focuses on the other jobs, such as rebounding and defending, to support them.
