The Boston Celtics paid a visit Saturday evening with malevolent intentions. Sitting in street clothes behind the bench, James Wiseman watched his mates dominate in a 123-107 win. The Golden State Warriors sent the Celtics back on the road and towards Los Angeles with the parting words, “not in our house.”
The trio of Wiseman, Ryan Rollins, and Patrick Baldwin Jr. returned to the solace of the sea to continue their assignment with the Santa Cruz Warriors for a game against the visiting Oklahoma City Blue at Kaiser Permanente Arena on Sunday.
Inspired by future core teammate Jonathan Kuminga, the trio reminded the Golden State Warriors coaching staff that it may be an excellent idea to include them in their travel plans.
The Dubs set off out East on Monday for six games in nine nights, facing the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets before spending Christmas with the Memphis Grizzlies.
The trio of Wiseman, Baldwin and Rollins each had statement games on Sunday, putting their bright futures on display much to the delight of a standing-room-only crowd. Wiseman’s time in Santa Cruz is now paying dividends from the investment, with the former second overall pick scoring 24 points and snatching 16 boards to go with two assists and three blocks in 28 minutes.
Rollins led the Sea Dubs with 26 points, 9 boards and a block while occupying the floor for a team-leading 33 minutes. Baldwin put on a shooting display and confirmed why the Warriors drafted him with the 27th pick in the first round in this year’s draft, going 9-for-12 from the field and 6-for-9 from a distance.
Kerr would be prudent to reserve three seats on the team’s plane for Wiseman, Baldwin and Rollins, though no news has come of that as yet. With two scheduled back-to-back games on this crunched trip East, the Warriors will need every man on deck to weather the adventure that’s been forecast.
That addition of the trio gets all the more important should Klay Thompson remain out on one side of the back-to-backs, while the status of Andrew Wiggins remains uncertain as he battles an adductor strain.