His goal is to be an All-Star, but since Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins was forced to rest during this year’s mid-season break, he’s taken full advantage.
Wiggins scored a career high 27 points in a half against the Grizzlies on Friday on his way to a 40-point performance that helped Golden State notch an impressive 116-103 win. Wiggins and others made up for the absence of star guard Stephen Curry, who remains out with a tailbone contusion.
Wiggins looked a bit tired as the first half of the season came to a close, and he appeared on the injury report multiple times, though he’s yet to miss a game. He looks refreshed recently, however, and his stats tell the story.
In the first five games after getting some rest, Wiggins has averaged 23 points on 55.2% 3-point shooting, to go with 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals.
Rusty Simmons/San Francisco Chronicle
That’s a nice looking line of data, especially the 55 percent from distance. It’s just for five games, but Wiggins’ defense has remained with him the entire season, regardless of how many points he scores.
It’s clear, however, that without injured guard Klay Thompson, Wiggins’ offense is vital to the Warriors chances this season. He wont stay as hot as he is now, but he’s shooting a career-high 38 percent from beyond the arch. For the season, Wiggins has averaged an impressive 17.7 points on 48 percent shooting.
When Thompson returns, Wiggins figures to be a large piece of the Warriors’ planned resurgence. He’s the former No. 1 pick in the draft, and if all goes according to plan in Golden State, Wiggins will have his best career years in the season’s ahead — potentially including an All-Star appearance.
(Photo credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports)
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