© Kyle Terada | 2021 Jan 27
If only the Warriors could play the Wolves every night.
It was a case of more of the same on Wednesday, when Golden State (10-8, tied for sixth in the West) posted another double-digit win over the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves, 123-111, the second such performance in three nights.
After Monday’s 22 point win, Steve Kerr seemed displeased with the Warriors’ effort in a game in which the Wolves (4-13, last in the West) shot just 41 percent. It’s unlikely Kerr will feel the same way after the rematch, in which the Warriors played with high intensity throughout and moved the ball, making up for a slow offensive start in the first quarter.
It was the third quarter where the game was won, however, the Warriors extending their seven point first half lead to 20 after outscoring the Wolves 37-24 in the frame.
Interestingly, that quarter only included four points combined from Wednesday’s players of the game; Kelly Oubre and James Wiseman.
Oubre had his best game as a Warrior, posting a line (20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block) that only hinted at his excellent two-way performance. After also missing nearly the entire first quarter thanks to two quick fouls, Oubre was perfect in the second, going 5-for-5 for 12 points, the most he’s ever scored in a single frame. In addition to two deep three pointers, Oubre was relentless attacking the basket, the best example a posterizing dunk over Naz Reid.
That rim has a family pic.twitter.com/BOhBplHp7h
— KNBR (@KNBR) January 28, 2021
Oubre did so while playing almost primarily with the second unit, foul trouble leading to just a combined two minutes on the floor in the first and third quarters combined. It’s a performance that on most nights would only feed the narrative that Oubre might be better off playing with that group rather than starting.
On this night it will not, however, thanks to Wiseman dropping a career-high 25 points (9-for-14) in just 24 minutes, his best all-around game in a Warriors uniform. It’s just the second game since Wiseman was chosen as the player to be removed from the starting lineup for Kevon Looney, a group that had amassed the worst +/- of any high-usage lineup in the NBA.
Some criticized the move for misdiagnosing of the problem, with Oubre as the player who was most deserving of a “demotion,” and worries about how pulling Wiseman might affect the 19-year-old’s confidence. On Monday the new look unit with Looney was much better, but not a lot of conclusions can be made from two quarters vs. the Wolves. On Wednesday the unit barely played together thanks to Oubre’s foul trouble, but there’s no question that Wiseman’s confidence is just fine.
Draymond Green actively searches for James Wiseman way more than any other teammate. Perfect lookahead find here to complete the Wiseman block/dunk sequence. pic.twitter.com/vKacJY3pG2
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 28, 2021
Wiseman also had his best game defensively, taking advantage of a Wolves team that isn’t very effective when running the pick-and-roll, an area that Wiseman, like all defensive centers, struggles to stop.
Perfect defense from James Wiseman on Anthony Edwards leads to an open three for Damion Lee on the other end pic.twitter.com/CJ6NULY7vN
— KNBR (@KNBR) January 28, 2021
He also went 3-for-3 from three-point range, after not hitting a three-pointer for eight games.
Two straight James Wiseman right wing 3s. He hadn’t hit a 3 in eight games. pic.twitter.com/XTPLCykGzF
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 28, 2021
Wiseman was so good that he earned the right to close the second quarter over Looney (who had a nice night with 10 rebounds) an indicator that he was Golden State’s best option at center on Wednesday.
It was also another look at the only player drafted above Wiseman, Anthony Edwards, who also had a career high 25-points in a much more impressive performance than we saw on Monday.