Andrew Wiggins scored 24 points, and Dennis Schroder contributed 17 points and nine assists as the Golden State Warriors, missing several key players, held off the Memphis Grizzlies 121-113 on Saturday night. Despite being without Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, and Gary Payton II, the Warriors leaned on Wiggins’ timely scoring and a spark from Lindy Waters III, who added 16 points and hit four 3-pointers off the bench.
Golden State’s physical rivalry with Memphis continued to heat up in the fourth quarter. Draymond Green, a central figure in their fiery matchups, committed a flagrant 1 foul on Zach Edey just 36 seconds into the period and later picked up his ninth technical foul of the season. However, the Warriors maintained their composure down the stretch, with Wiggins delivering two emphatic dunks to seal the victory.
The Grizzlies, wrapping up a five-game road trip, got 23 points from Jaren Jackson Jr. and a double-double from Desmond Bane, who finished with 22 points and 10 assists. Rookie standout Jaylen Wells struggled, scoring just eight points after a stellar 30-point performance with eight 3-pointers the night before. Wells missed all five of his attempts from beyond the arc as Memphis failed to keep pace with Golden State’s balanced offensive attack.
A pivotal moment came midway through the third quarter when Wiggins scored seven consecutive points, including a four-point play, to extend the Warriors’ lead to 81-71. Despite physicality and chippy play typical of these matchups, Golden State executed offensively, dishing out 32 assists on the night.
Memphis continues to await the return of Ja Morant, sidelined with a right AC joint strain. Meanwhile, the Warriors managed Curry’s absence on the first night of a back-to-back, with Podziemski and Payton also out due to injuries. Golden State’s depth and resilience proved decisive as they claimed a hard-fought victory in a marquee matchup.
Andrew Wiggins: B+
Stats: 24 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 4 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 9-17 FG, 3-10 3PT, 3-3 FT, +10, 36 MIN
Wiggins was the focal point of Golden State’s offense, scoring a game-high 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting. His two emphatic dunks in the fourth quarter were momentum shifters, and he added defensive value with 4 steals. However, his 3-point shooting (3-of-10) was inconsistent, and his 2 rebounds were underwhelming for his role.
Dennis Schroder: B+
Stats: 17 PTS, 3 REB, 9 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 1 PF, 6-15 FG, 3-6 3PT, 2-4 FT, +13, 36 MIN
Schroder played a strong all-around game with 17 points and 9 assists, directing the Warriors’ offense effectively in Curry’s absence. He shot efficiently from beyond the arc (3-of-6) but struggled inside, finishing 6-of-15 overall. His +13 plus-minus reflected his steady impact.
Lindy Waters III: B+
Stats: 16 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 6-7 FG, 4-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, -5, 28 MIN
Waters provided a crucial spark off the bench, scoring 16 points on a near-perfect 6-of-7 shooting, including 4-of-5 from deep. His shooting efficiency was vital, but his defensive impact was limited, as shown by his -5 plus-minus.
Trayce Jackson-Davis: B-
Stats: 11 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 5-13 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-1 FT, +12, 28 MIN
Jackson-Davis flirted with a double-double, contributing 11 points and 9 rebounds while showcasing his passing ability with 5 assists. Despite his effort on both ends, his shooting (5-of-13) could have been more efficient.
Buddy Hield: B-
Stats: 14 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 2 PF, 5-9 FG, 4-7 3PT, 0-0 FT, +18, 24 MIN
Hield was a sharpshooter, scoring 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-7 from deep. While he contributed offensively, his 3 turnovers and lack of defensive presence left room for improvement.
Jonathan Kuminga: C+
Stats: 13 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 0 PF, 4-6 FG, 3-3 3PT, 2-4 FT, +0, 15 MIN
Kuminga had an efficient scoring night, contributing 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from deep. However, his 4 turnovers and minimal contributions in other areas limited his overall impact.
Draymond Green: C+
Stats: 9 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 3-7 FG, 3-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, +10, 31 MIN
Green’s game was marked by defensive intensity, but his impact was overshadowed by a flagrant foul and his 9th technical foul of the season. Offensively, he scored 9 points on 3-of-7 shooting and contributed 2 steals and a block, but his 4 personal fouls and lack of rebounding were notable shortcomings.
Kyle Anderson: C+
Stats: 7 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 3-5 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-1 FT, -2, 22 MIN
Anderson played a modest role with 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. He showed defensive versatility with 2 blocks and a steal but was not a major factor offensively which is why he gets a standard C+ rating.Â
Pat Spencer: C
Stats: 2 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -5, 12 MIN
Spencer provided 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in 12 minutes off the bench. His contributions were limited, and his -5 plus-minus reflected his minimal impact in a tight game.
Moses Moody: N/A
Stats: 8 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 2-3 FG, 2-3 3PT, 2-3 FT, -11, 9 MIN
Moody scored 8 points in just 9 minutes of action, hitting 2-of-3 from deep and showing promise in limited time. However, his brief stint on the court did not allow for a full assessment of his performance.
