Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins powered the Golden State Warriors to a 116-109 win over the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Curry, who returned after sitting out Tuesday’s win over the Jazz to rest his knees, scored 21 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with 1:52 remaining to seal the victory.
Wiggins was equally impressive, contributing 27 points to the Warriors’ offensive surge. Kevon Looney added a solid 18 points off the bench, while Gary Payton II chipped in 15 points and nine rebounds, providing key support.
Despite a historic performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who poured in 52 points for the Thunder, Golden State was able to hold on. Gilgeous-Alexander had a hot start, scoring 17 points in the opening 8:10 and finishing with 21 of Oklahoma City’s 34 first-quarter points.
He shot an impressive 16-of-29 from the field and 18-of-21 from the free-throw line. However, the Warriors’ offensive depth and the leadership of Curry in the second half proved too much for the Thunder.
The game was tight, especially in the first half when Oklahoma City took a 58-48 lead at the break, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring five straight points late in the second quarter. The Thunder continued to fight, but Golden State’s balanced attack ultimately prevailed.
Curry also passed Ray Allen to move into 27th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list so this historic night was a feel-good story for Warriors fans, so let’s grade every one of their players who competed in the victory.
Andrew Wiggins: B+
Stats: 27 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 10-17 FG, 5-8 3PT, 2-3 FT, +14, 38 MIN
Wiggins was instrumental in the Warriors’ win, leading the team with 27 points on efficient shooting (10-of-17 from the field, 5-of-8 from three). He also contributed 4 rebounds and 2 assists, adding well-rounded support. Wiggins played with energy and was a reliable scorer, especially in the second half, helping to balance the Warriors’ attack.
Kevon Looney: B+
Stats: 18 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 4 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 5-7 FG, 0-1 3PT, 8-9 FT, +14, 25 MIN
Looney provided a steady and impactful performance off the bench, finishing with 18 points and 3 rebounds. He was highly efficient, shooting 5-of-7 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. Looney also protected the rim with 4 blocks, contributing to the Warriors’ defense. While he had no turnovers, his scoring off the bench was crucial in maintaining momentum for Golden State, and his +14 plus/minus was a testament to his solid all-around play.
Gary Payton II: B+
Stats: 15 PTS, 9 REB (0 OREB, 9 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 4 PF, 5-7 FG, 0-0 3PT, 5-5 FT, +12, 25 MIN
Payton was a key contributor in all aspects of the game, finishing with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists. His 5-of-7 shooting and perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line showed efficiency, and he played a significant role in the Warriors’ rebounding efforts. His ability to impact the game in a variety of ways helped Golden State secure the victory.
Stephen Curry: B-
Stats: 21 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 6-15 FG, 5-10 3PT, 4-4 FT, -2, 33 MIN
Curry had a solid performance with 21 points, but his shooting was not as sharp as usual, hitting only 6-of-15 from the field and 5-of-10 from three. However, his clutch 3-pointer with 1:52 remaining helped seal the win. Curry also contributed 4 assists and 1 steal, though his -2 plus/minus reflected some struggles in the game’s flow. Despite this, his leadership and timely scoring in the second half were crucial in guiding the Warriors to victory.
Brandin Podziemski: C+
Stats: 11 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 4-6 FG, 1-3 3PT, 2-2 FT, +1, 18 MIN
Podziemski gave the Warriors a nice boost off the bench with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 18 minutes. He shot 4-of-6 from the field, including 1-of-3 from three, and showed flashes of playmaking and scoring ability. His performance provided valuable depth and energy in a tight game.
Dennis Schroder: C+
Stats: 9 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB, 2 DREB), 7 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 3 PF, 4-8 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-2 FT, +3, 26 MIN
Schroder contributed 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists in 26 minutes, offering solid playmaking and a decent scoring effort. However, he struggled with his shooting (4-of-8 from the field and 1-of-4 from three) and missed both of his free throws. His turnovers (2) and defensive limitations were also noticeable, but he was still a useful presence in orchestrating the offense, as evidenced by his +3 plus/minus.
Gui Santos: C+
Stats: 3 PTS, 7 REB (1 OREB, 6 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 1-3 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-1 FT, -12, 19 MIN
Santos had a quiet game, scoring just 3 points with 7 rebounds and 2 assists in 19 minutes. While he contributed on the glass, his shooting was inefficient (1-of-3 from the field) and he struggled from beyond the arc (0-of-2). His defensive impact was minimal, and his -12 plus/minus highlighted his struggles on the floor.
Kyle Anderson: C
Stats: 2 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 1-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 15 MIN
Anderson had a modest game, finishing with 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in 15 minutes. He did contribute defensively with 2 blocks but struggled offensively, shooting just 1-of-4 from the field. His low-scoring output and limited impact on the game were reflected in his +4 plus/minus, though he did add some depth during his brief stint.
Moses Moody: C
Stats: 5 PTS, 2 REB (2 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 2-8 FG, 0-6 3PT, 1-2 FT, +5, 17 MIN
Moody struggled with his shooting, making only 2-of-8 from the field and 0-of-6 from three. He contributed 5 points and 2 rebounds in 17 minutes but had little else to show for his time on the court. Despite his shooting woes, his +5 plus/minus suggested he wasn’t a negative presence, but he’ll need to improve his efficiency moving forward.
Buddy Hield: C
Stats: 5 PTS, 5 REB (0 OREB, 5 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 2-6 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, +7, 15 MIN
Hield had an underwhelming performance, scoring 5 points, collecting 5 rebounds, and contributing 4 assists. He shot 2-of-6 from the field and 1-of-4 from three, struggling to get his offense going. Hield’s versatility was apparent with his rebounds and assists, but his overall shooting struggles and lack of scoring efficiency made his impact minimal, reflected in his +7 plus/minus.
Quinten Post: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 3 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -11, 8 MIN
Post played 8 minutes but did not contribute significantly, finishing with 0 points, 0 rebounds, and 2 turnovers. His -11 plus/minus shows he struggled to make an impact during his brief time on the floor, and he didn’t provide any meaningful minutes for the Warriors in their victory.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
