Smiles all around for Curry and the Warriors
With a big grin, Warriors guard Steph Curry ran to the sideline, leaped and high-fived teammate Damion Lee. Such a celebration after a routine 3-pointer might have seemed excessive, but this one was the culmination of weeks of work.
The basket came in the third quarter of a 116106 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.
Andrew Wiggins, anticipating that Curry would come curling along the arc, set a hard downscreen that freed Curry to receive the pass from Juan Toscano-An
derson and drill the wideopen shot.
These are the moments that indicate that Curry and his new- look supporting cast are beginning to jell and the Warriors (2-2) are better than they looked in their first two games. After losing to Brooklyn and Milwaukee by 65 points, they took care of business in Chicago (1-3) and Detroit (0- 4).
Curry led the scoring with 31 points on 9-of-17 shooting (5- of-9 from 3-point range) and six assists and got help from the two newcomers the Warriors are leaning on most heavily. Wiggins had 27 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. — he made at 3-point shot after missing his first 17 — delivered 14 points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
WIGGINS TOOK OVER THE FOURTH QUARTER » The turning point of the game started with Curry on the bench and Wiggins leading the second-unit offense at the start of the fourth quarter. James Wiseman’s kick out after an offensive rebound led to a stepback 3-pointer by Wiggins to tie the game at 89 with 7:41 left. That began a 20- 4 run, capped off by Curry’s 3-pointer when he re- entered the game with 4:17
remaining.
In all, Wiggins scored 17 of his 27 points in the final period using a variety of dribble moves, drives and confident pull-up jumpers. After struggling to start the season, Wiggins has put together two impressive games and looks more comfortable since head coach Steve Kerr simplified the offense.
WISEMAN’S DEFENSE » Wiseman had his best defensive game of the season and anchored a Golden State unit that held Detroit to 38% shooting.
Wiseman’s positioning on defense was much better, and after picking up a pair of early fouls biting on pump fakes, he was more disciplined as the game went on. Though he did end up fouling out with 2:53 to go, he was a big reason why the Warriors went from being tied at 85 when he checked in with 9:03 left in the fourth quarter to leading by 10 by the time he left the game.
WARRIORS PICK UP POOLE’S OPTION » Poole, who has emerged as a regular part of the rotation this season, had his third-year rookie option picked up for next season. The move will keep Poole, 21, under contract for next season at $2.2 million. Through four games, he is averaging 6.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 15 minutes per game.