The Warriors moved Kuminga to the bench before the Pelicans’ first game originally aired on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors moved forward Jonathan Kuminga to the bench before Tuesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

ESPN’s Shams Charania and Kendra Andrews first reported the move, citing sources, and the news was confirmed when the Warriors announced their starting lineup.

Coach Steve Kerr will have Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Moses Moody, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis against New Orleans.

The Warriors will be without Steph Curry (left peroneal muscle strain), Andrew Wiggins (lower back strain) and De’Anthony Melton (lower back strain).

Curry and Melton were ruled out for Wednesday’s second home game against the Pelicans. Kerr considered Wiggins questionable for Wednesday’s game.

Kerr was asked before Tuesday’s game about Kuminga, who has struggled in the first three games of the season.

“Three games is nothing,” Kerr told reporters. “I never worry with such a small sample size. JK had a really good pre-season. He will prevail. We’re going to need his strength, his athleticism, and tonight could be a big night for him.” In that regard, depending on how the game turns out, we obviously played every game with 12 players, which means it’s for them It will be a little more difficult for individual players to find their rhythm because they don’t play as much. He’s worried about JK at all.

Kuminga is averaging 8.0 points on 33.3 percent shooting in 19.7 minutes in three games this season after averaging 16.1 points on 52.9 percent shooting last year.

Kuminga was eligible to sign a rookie contract extension before Oct. 21, but he and the Warriors failed to reach an agreement, meaning he will become a restricted free agent after this season.

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