3 takeaways as Wiggins returns for Warriors in preseason matchup with Lakers – Paradise Post

After getting sick in training camp and working back for two weeks, wing Andrew Wiggins returned for the Warriors.

And he instantly played stout defense, often guarding LeBron James and helping the Warriors limit the Lakers to 35.8% shooting overall in a 111-97 blowout win.

In the team’s penultimate preseason game, in Las Vegas against the Lakers, Wiggins started alongside Steph Curry, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Golden State likely would have preferred to test out the supersized unit earlier in the preseason, but better late than never.

After that starting group, the Warriors built a double-digit lead and maintained a healthy cushion for most of the game. As the regular season opener creeps closer, both teams ramped up the minutes, with just about every regular playing at least 20 minutes.

The Warriors showcased their depth, overcoming the absence of two rotation players seamlessly to remain undefeated in the preseason.

Although it was an exhibition game on a neutral court, Tuesday night was the first meeting between Steph Curry and James since they teamed up at the Olympics. Steve Kerr, who coached them on Team USA, described their summer experience as a “bromance” when meeting with reporters pregame.

Curry got the upper hand, registering 16 points, six assists and five rebounds in the Warriors’ win. Moses Moody added a team-high 21 points off the bench, continuing his strong preseason.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ fifth straight preseason victory.

The jumbo starters

In five preseason games, the Warriors have used five distinct starting lineups. Part of that is due to Wiggins’ extended absence, but the team is committed to testing out various combinations regardless.

This one, in particular, was eye-catching. Wiggins was the 6-foot-7 shooting guard, with the 6-foot-8 Kuminga on the wing in addition to two non-shooting big men. On paper, that’s probably not enough shooting to take attention off of Curry. But it’s a whole lot of athleticism and size.

But the unit didn’t pop off the page. Like the previous four starting-fives, the Warriors played about even with the Lakers’ starters, exiting with a two-point deficit after roughly six minutes.

The biggest beneficiary of the combination was Kuminga. Twice, the fourth-year wing took on Anthony Davis at the rim and scored. Even against Davis, an elite defender, Kuminga had no problem getting downhill.

Later in the quarter, Kuminga ran his lane hard and got rewarded by Curry for an easy transition dunk. He also drove baseline and dropped off an assist to Jackson-Davis for a dunk.

“The key is JK and Wiggs running the floor,” Kerr told reporters postgame. “It puts a lot of pressure on teams. So they set a good tone tonight, the way they got downhill. With or without the ball, they were going. I really liked the way both those guys played and the impact that they made with their athleticism and force.”

In his first seven minutes, Kuminga registered eight points, three rebounds and two assists. He finished with 11 points, six rebounds and three dimes in perhaps his most well-rounded preseason performance yet. Early in the second half, he even stood up James in the post on defense.

Wiggins, meanwhile, struggled offensively in his preseason debut, but the touch around the basket and on jumpers should come around.

“He’s starting a good 10 days behind everybody else, and that’s tough,” Steve Kerr told reporters pregame. “But the conditioning that he came into camp with before he got sick will allow him to come back quickly.”

It wouldn’t be shocking if the Warriors tried out their small lineup in their preseason finale, replacing Jackson-Davis with either Melton or Podziemski.