Grading Warriors Players After Wiggins And Curry Push Them To A 104-99 Win Over Magic

The Golden State Warriors bounced back from a sluggish first half to defeat the Orlando Magic 104-99 on Monday night, led by Andrew Wiggins’ 25 points and Stephen Curry’s 24. Wiggins was efficient, shooting 7-for-14 from the field, and made 10 free throws while passing Hall of Famer Chris Mullin for seventh place on the Warriors’ all-time 3-point list. 

Moses Moody added 17 points, and rookie Quinten Post contributed seven points and seven rebounds, continuing his strong play as a starter. The Warriors, who had been struggling to stay above .500, got a much-needed lift from Draymond Green, who returned from a seven-game absence to contribute four points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

Despite a lackluster first half, Golden State surged just before the break, which proved critical as they overcame Orlando’s early dominance. The Magic, 28th in rebounding, controlled the boards 52-45, resulting in 18 second-chance points, with Goga Bitadze grabbing 14 rebounds. 

Orlando was led by Cole Anthony, who had 26 points, and Franz Wagner, who added 21. However, it was Moody’s clutch 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining, extending the Warriors’ lead to 99-94, that sealed the win for Golden State.

The victory marked a positive step for the Warriors, who have faced challenges this season, but with Wiggins and Curry leading the charge and Green back in the fold, they showed the depth and resilience needed to secure the win. Let’s grade each player for his performance on Monday night. 

Andrew Wiggins: B+

Stats: 25 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 7-14 FG, 1-5 3PT, 10-15 FT, +15, 35 MIN

Wiggins delivered a strong all-around performance, scoring 25 points on efficient shooting, including 10 free throws. He was the primary offensive weapon for Golden State, particularly when the team needed a spark in the second half. His ability to drive, get to the line, and make plays when needed allowed him to shine, especially with his 1-for-5 shooting from three. Wiggins’ scoring and leadership in a game where Curry struggled were crucial for the Warriors’ victory, and passing Hall of Famer Chris Mullin for seventh place on the Warriors’ all-time 3-point list added to his significance in the win.

Stephen Curry: B

Stats: 24 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 5 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 1 PF, 7-21 FG, 2-12 3PT, 8-8 FT, +8, 34 MIN

Curry had a mixed night, finishing with 24 points despite shooting only 7-for-21 from the field and 2-for-12 from three. His efficiency was off, but he still managed to contribute significantly with five assists and one steal. His impact wasn’t fully reflected in the box score, but he continued to orchestrate the offense and kept the pressure on Orlando’s defense with his gravity. Curry’s perfect free throw shooting (8-for-8) helped maintain the Warriors’ lead late, though his shooting struggles prevented him from having the typical dominant performance he’s known for.

Moses Moody: B

Stats: 17 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 6-9 FG, 3-5 3PT, 2-4 FT, -2, 24 MIN

Moody was efficient in his 24 minutes, contributing 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. His scoring ability came at key moments, including a crucial 3-pointer late that extended the Warriors’ lead to 99-94. Although he didn’t contribute much in other areas (zero assists, steals, or blocks), his scoring and efficient shooting were vital in keeping Golden State in the game, and his defense was solid as well. Moody’s poise and clutch shotmaking made him a key factor in the Warriors’ success.

Kevon Looney: B

Stats: 2 PTS, 16 REB (8 OREB, 8 DREB), 6 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 1-6 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +1, 21 MIN

Looney’s impact was felt on the glass, as he hauled in 16 rebounds (eight offensive, eight defensive), playing a crucial role in limiting Orlando’s second-chance opportunities despite the Magic’s size advantage. While his offensive contributions were minimal (2 points on 1-of-6 shooting), Looney’s hustle and ability to facilitate in transition with six assists were important in the Warriors’ overall success. 

Dennis Schroder: C+

Stats: 9 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 3-6 FG, 3-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, -9, 19 MIN

Schroder’s 9 points came on efficient shooting (3-for-6, including 3-for-3 from deep), but he didn’t have much of an impact outside of scoring. His -9 plus/minus indicates that he struggled to make a strong impact during his minutes on the court. He did contribute two steals and played some solid defense, but his limited overall contributions, particularly in playmaking, kept his grade lower.

Brandin Podziemski: C+

Stats: 8 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 2 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 3-6 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, -9, 21 MIN

Podziemski played 21 minutes, contributing 8 points and 5 rebounds while making a solid 2-of-4 from three. He was active defensively with two steals and showed flashes of potential, but his turnovers and lack of scoring consistency were drawbacks. His +9 net rating suggests he had a positive influence when on the floor, but he wasn’t a major contributor outside of his scoring.

Quinten Post: C+

Stats: 7 PTS, 7 REB (0 OREB, 7 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 2-5 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-2 FT, +6, 20 MIN

Post continued to show promise as a starter, contributing 7 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in 20 minutes of action. He was effective in terms of grabbing boards (seven defensive), but his scoring efficiency (2-of-5 shooting, 1-of-4 from three) left something to be desired. His size and presence on the glass were valuable, but his struggles from deep prevented him from making a larger impact offensively.

Draymond Green: C+

Stats: 4 PTS, 7 REB (0 OREB, 7 DREB), 5 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 2-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-2 FT, +9, 29 MIN

Green made a solid return from injury, contributing 4 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Though his offense was limited (2-of-4 shooting, 0-for-2 from three), Green’s leadership, passing, and defensive presence were crucial for the Warriors. He wasn’t the dominant force we often see, but his ability to contribute in a variety of ways helped steady the team during stretches of the game where they struggled.

Gary Payton II: C

Stats: 4 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 2-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, -5, 15 MIN

Payton had a modest outing with 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 15 minutes. While he added some defensive pressure and got a few good looks, his lack of scoring efficiency (2-for-4 shooting, 0-for-2 from three) and overall limited impact on the game made his performance less notable. Payton’s -5 plus/minus also suggests he wasn’t particularly impactful in his time on the floor.

Buddy Hield: C

Stats: 4 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 1-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 2-3 FT, +15, 19 MIN

Hield made a brief appearance and scored 4 points in 19 minutes of action, shooting 1-for-4 from the field and 0-for-2 from three. Though he contributed some defense and had a positive +15 plus/minus, his inability to score efficiently and contribute elsewhere on the court kept his grade lower. His performance was more about being a spot player than a central contributor.

Gui Santos: N/A

Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 2 MIN

Gui Santos only played two minutes and did not get a chance to make much of an impact which is why he gets an N/A for a grade.