Klay Thompson returns to Warriors’ lineup after injury absence

SAN FRANCISCO — Klay Thompson returned to the Golden State Warriors’ starting lineup Wednesday for their game against the Sacramento Kings.

Thompson, 33, missed the Warriors’ previous game with right knee soreness.

With Thompson back in action, the Warriors rolled out their traditional starting five. Stephen Curry paired with Thompson in the backcourt, while Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney rounded out the starting lineup. Chris Paul remained in his bench role for the third straight game.

Jonathan Kuminga, who also sat out the Warriors’ last game with a left knee contusion, was listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game. Before tipoff, coach Steve Kerr said that Kuminga was “going to warm up and see how he’s feeling” to determine” whether or not the third-year lottery pick would be available off the bench.

The Kings, meanwhile, were without a key piece, as star guard De’Aaron Fox sat out with a right ankle sprain.

“It’s the ultimate trap game tonight,” Kerr said. “You guys have seen this a million times. A team loses one of its stars. I think last year we had a game here where Phoenix was missing four of their five starters and they came in and smacked us. So I’ve already given our players the warning.

“It’s not just that Sacramento is missing Fox. We got home two nights ago in the middle of the night and haven’t done anything since. We didn’t have shootaround today. I wanted the guys to get some sleep. But it’s not easy coming back from those long road trips.”