With Curry out, Wiggins leads romp
Forward scores 40 points as Golden State prevails
Warriors guard Stephen Curry pleaded with the coaching staff to let him play Friday night — not just because he abhors sitting out, but because he knew his absence could mean Golden State losing another critical game.
Entering that matchup against the Grizzlies at FedEx Forum, the Warriors were 31884 with Curry since the start of the 201415 season and 4074 without him. But Golden State knows it must be cautious with Curry’s health, which is why, after hearing his pitch to play, head coach Steve Kerr sat Curry for Friday’s 116103 win over Memphis.
As he watched from the bench in a black facemask and gray hoodie, Curry saw one of the Warriors’ most inspired performances of the season. With Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole leading the way, Golden State outplayed the Grizzlies in all facets, not letting Memphis within striking distance after it rode a 267 run to a 21point lead late in the second quarter.
By early in the third, Wiggins had set his Warriors high in scoring and he finished with 40 points on 14for24 shooting (6for11 from 3point range), eight rebounds, four assists and four
steals. It marked the ninth career 40point game for Wiggins, who, before settling in as one of Curry’s sidekicks, spent years as a goto option for Minnesota.
His ease Friday beating defenders off the dribble, draining fadeaway jumpers and driving through the key for dunks was an encouraging sight for a Golden State team that has struggled at times to get Curry enough support. Perhaps the most memorable highlight came late in the second quarter, when Wiggins jogged through the key and threw down a thunderous putback dunk off a missed shot by Draymond Green.
“Steph’s a big part of this team,” Wiggins said. “With him being out, everyone had to step up. I just tried to be aggressive from the start.”
On a night when the inactive list suggested the Warriors should labor against a team jostling for playoff positioning, they could do little wrong. Poole, who started in place of Curry, continued his torrid scoring with 25 points on 10for15 shooting (3for6 from 3point range).
With a win secured with 1:32 left, Poole checked out of the game with a smile as teammates highfived him on the bench. This was a new experience for
Poole, who, not long removed from being out of the rotation, is suddenly a valued cog.
“I never lost confidence. I’ve always had confidence,” Poole said. “When you have a coach who trusts you enough to put you out there, you have to take advantage of it.”
Poole has been helped by Green, who continues to thrive as a point forward, using pinpoint passes to get the Warriors into their offense. His 13 assists Friday marked the 13th time in his past 20 games he has finished that category in double digits.
Guard Damion Lee, who’d been out of the rotation in recent weeks, added 21 points off the bench. Even center Kevon Looney — hardly much of a scorer — chipped in 11 points on six shots.
The Warriors had 31 assists to 13 turnovers as they moved two games ahead of Memphis in the standings. But minutes after the final buzzer sounded, with the lockerroom mood light, Green reminded his teammates that Saturday’s matchup against these same Grizzlies “wouldn’t be a free swing.”
Curry almost definitely will be out again. Kerr conceded postgame that Curry is still in pain and it’d be “irresponsible to play him.”
“We have plenty to lose tomorrow,” Kerr said. “Tomorrow will be a very difficult game.”