Translation:
Beijing time January 3rd, the Warriors faced off against the Philadelphia 76ers in a game. As the first game of the new year, Curry also conveyed his desire to win the game before the match and led by example during the game. In the previous game against the Cavaliers' twin towers lineup, the Warriors were in a difficult position, even falling behind by as much as 26 points at one point. In this game, the Warriors defeated Philadelphia 139-105. Facing the trio of George, Maxi, and Embiid, Curry led the older lineup to a 34-point victory. During the game, Curry also set an NBA record, hitting at least 8 out of 8 three-pointers and recording over 10 assists, becoming the first player in NBA history to achieve this feat.
Curry started the game today and clocked out early after playing for 29 minutes. He went 11 for 15 from the field, including 8 for 8 from beyond the arc, achieving a 100% shooting percentage. He finished with 30 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 steal. In the fourth quarter with 9 minutes left, Curry was subbed back in when the lead was close to 20 points. After hitting two more three-pointers, Kerr decided to take Curry out of the game early. After Curry's departure, Kerr jokingly commented on his star player. Kerr said, "This is the first time you've agreed to come out of the game with such a hot hand." It's clear from Kerr's statement that Curry has had hot streaks before but would express his desire to stay on the court when being substituted.
The main factor that allowed Curry to willingly leave the game was the performance of his teammates. Prince Kuminga, who is often teased by fans, had an outstanding performance today. Going 8 for 11 from the field, he scored 20 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, dished out 5 assists, and made 1 steal. He also went 6 for 6 in personal restricted area breaks and 2 for 3 from three-point range. From this game, it's evident that Kuminga has grown significantly, especially in his transition from offense to defense. Naturally gifted with an excellent physique, Kuminga's offensive techniques in the paint have always been rough, and his turnover rate in transition has been extremely high in past seasons.
Just like in the third quarter of the game, Kuminga used Maxi's defense to bypass Embiid and easily score a layup in a fast break. Kerr also realized that the wing players are key for the team without Curry. The starting lineup features Wiggins, who is both offensive and defensive. Throughout December, the team relied on Wiggins to carry the offense, and the double-wing lineup has proven their ability to win games. In the four games after Christmas, Kuminga came off the bench and averaged 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, with a personal shooting percentage of 54%, a three-point shooting percentage of 39%, and a free throw percentage of 72%. Besides Curry giving Kuminga the opportunity to perform by leaving the game early, it's also Kuminga's determination to prove himself.
Posting on social media as if bidding farewell to the Warriors has led many fans to speculate whether the management plans to trade Kuminga. After all, Curry still has the potential to continue winning championships, but the Warriors' roster hasn't seen significant improvements. The team doesn't have many assets to offer, and Kuminga is the most valuable among them. There were reports as early as the offseason that Kuminga wanted to pursue a max contract. As his first big contract after his rookie deal, Kuminga could earn at least 186million.UnlessKumingacanbeselectedtotheAll−NBATeamorwinMVPhonors,hewon′tbeabletopursuea226 million contract. Considering the Warriors' current salary cap situation, management doesn't have the capability to provide such a max contract.
In addition to Kuminga's individual performance, Moody also put up 12 points and 2 rebounds today, and the team's new addition Schroder scored a new high of 15 points for the team. Pojemska missed the game today due to injury issues, which instead sparked a good team chemistry. Last season, Poj played well and earned Kerr's trust, but his state has noticeably declined this season, causing quite a stir, especially when he was limited by Doncic's defense in one offensive play. Now that Schroder can effectively support the team after Curry's departure, Kerr has gradually reduced Poj's playing time. All Kuminga needs to do now is prove his personal abilities, and even if management were foolish, they wouldn't let him go.