The Golden State Warriors young core rallied together to help take down a Western Conference powerhouse earlier this week.
Kicking off a tough six-game stretch, the Golden State Warriors knocked off the third-seeded Denver Nuggets in a 116-110 effort. Multiple members of the Dubs young core stepped up and showed potential.
Andrew Wiggins helped lead the way with his 22 points, tied for the game-high. Though he is a streaky shooter, Wiggins has acted as the Warriors’ most reliable scorer since joining the roster.
Versus the Nuggets, Wiggins once again proved he is at his best when attacking the rim. Wiggins connected on 5-of-5 attempts around the rim in this game while shooting 6-for-13 from the rest of the floor.
Most notably, Wiggins helped create plays for his teammates all night long. He finished with 10 assists, marking only the second time in his career he has racked up double-digit assists in a game.
Eric Paschall also scored 22 points in this game, bullying his way in the paint and knocking down 2-of-4 3-point attempts.
As for the rest of the team, four other players scored in double-figures. Dragan Bender chipped in with a season-high 14 points while Jordan Poole and Damion Lee each scored 15.
Marquese Chriss continues to impress, averaging 13.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks across his last 15 games. Chriss is making serious strides as a defender and looks more and more like a permanent starter for the Dubs.
This game was an exciting one for the Warriors’ future. The return of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will put the franchise back into championship contention but the team will have no chance of winning it all if the rest of their core fails to produce.
The Warriors’ young core has a long way to go but their performance against one of the league’s best teams is reassuring.