Andrew Wiggins, Steph Curry shine as Warriors outgun Wizards, ex-teammate Jordan Poole
Andrew Wiggins, Stephen Curry and Dennis Schroder combined for 77 points to overpower the brilliant solo act of Jordan Poole and lift the Golden State Warriors to a 122-114 victory over the visiting Washington Wizards on Saturday night (Sunday, January 19, Manila time) in San Francisco.
Wiggins had a season-high 31 points, Curry 26 and Schroder 20 for the Warriors, who led just 104-103 after a Poole 3-pointer with 5:18 to go.
Opening a stretch of eight of nine at home, Golden State then scored the next six points, with Moses Moody dropping in a layup, Gary Payton II converting a three-point play and Wiggins making one of two free throws to open a seven-point gap with 3:32 remaining.
Poole, the game’s leading scorer with 38 points, temporarily stopped the bleeding with two free throws, but Curry countered with a layup and a 3-pointer that finally gave the hosts breathing room at 115-105 with just 2:30 to play.
The 3-pointer was just Curry’s fourth in 14 tries. He also found time for a team-high six assists.
Wiggins shot 12-for-22 and completed a double-double with 11 rebounds, while Schroder made seven of his 14 shots in his highest scoring game among 16 he’s played since joining the Warriors in an in-season trade.
Warriors big men Trayce Jackson-Davis (six points, game-high 15 rebounds) and Kevon Looney (10 points, 13 rebounds) combined for 16 points and 28 rebounds in the absence of Draymond Green, who left the game for good after three minutes because of tightness in his left calf.
Moody finished with 13 points and Payton 10 off the bench for the Warriors, who reached the midpoint of the season with a 21-20 record.
Poole’s 38 points were his third most this season. In just his second return to San Francisco since being traded to Washington, he had 23 of his points in the first half, during which the visitors built a 60-53 lead.
Poole drilled eight of his 15 3-point attempts, helping the Wizards outscore the hosts 66-42 from beyond the arc.
Kyle Kuzma had 22 points, Carlton Carrington 17, Alex Sarr 11 to go with a team-high nine rebounds and Corey Kispert 10 for the Wizards, who were opening a six-game Western swing.
Bilal Coulibaly was the game-leader in assists with seven to complement four points and six rebounds. – Rappler.com