SAN FRANCISCO — Even with Stephen Curry back and fully available Sunday, the Golden State Warriors proved they can win without their superstar.
Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole and the rest of the Warriors’ supporting cast stole the show for a second straight game in a 119-104 win over the Toronto Raptors, which rarely narrowed closer than double-digits, despite an uncharacteristically off night by their superstar in his return to the court.
“Every team’s game plan is to try to slow Steph down,” coach Steve Kerr said afterward. “The scoring balance means teams can’t throw everything at Steph. That’s what was happening last year. We saw that. Teams were throwing everything they had at Steph. It’s continued this year, but we have more overall shooting this year. … Just the overall spacing means if teams are going to throw the kitchen sink at Steph, they’re going to pay.”
After missing Friday with a sore hip, Curry returned to the starting lineup Sunday, along with Draymond Green, but largely stepped aside and let Wiggins and Poole go to work.
After the two combined for 59 points Friday in Detroit, they were even more efficient en route to 65 total Sunday. Poole led all scorers and set a season-high for a second straight game with 33 points on 10-of-13 shooting, including 8-of-11 from beyond the arc, while Wiggins was aggressive as ever with 12 buckets on 20 attempts from the field and 6-of-8 from deep. Poole’s 33 points secured his first consecutive 30-point performances of his career.
The Warriors were lethal from deep, even on an off-night by the NBA’s most prolific 3-point shooter. They made 22 of 45 attempts from beyond the arc, while Curry shot only 1-of-6 from deep and 2-of-10 overall. In addition to Poole and Wiggins, Otto Porter Jr. added 15 points with five 3-pointers on nine attempts.
Curry contributed only 12 in the scoring column but tied with Green for a team-high eight assists. The majority of his points came at the foul line.
“He draws so much attention, so anytime we can get a couple guys — especially Wiggs and Jordan — in the starting lineup, get those guys going early, they’re going to have some openings,” Kerr said. “And I thought both Andrew and Jordan took advantage of those openings early. Wiggs, same as Jordan … I really think he’s starting to get in a grove.”
Whether they’re on the court or not, the Warriors are proving they don’t need to rely on Curry and Green to win games this season. Golden State went 2-7 in games Curry didn’t play last season and was 3-7 when he played but scored 20 or fewer.
Thanks to Curry’s red-hot start to the season, Golden State hasn’t had many opportunities to show what it can do without him.
As the NBA’s leading scorer entering Sunday, Curry had only been held to 20 or fewer three times before his 12-point showing against the Raptors; it was his lowest scoring total of the season. Yet, in the small sample size, the Warriors are now 4-0 when Curry is either held in check or not suited up.
Wiggins connected on his first four attempts from the field in a preview of things to come. He scored 11 straight points after Poole scored the Warriors’ first five of the game as Golden State raced out to a 16-5 lead.
The Warriors led from start to finish for the second time this season.
Green and Kevon Looney acted as vacuums in the paint. Before half the third quarter had expired, Looney had already hoovered up enough rebounds to secure his fourth game with double-digit boards in his past seven showings. Green finished with a team-high 14 boards, to lead a 47-46 advantage on the glass.
Afterward, Kerr called Green “the best defender in the world.”
Asked for his reaction, Green offered a quick response: “I agree.”
Golden State also got a surprise contribution from Chris Chiozza, who was celebrating his 26th birthday. As the first player off the bench, in place of Gary Payton II (out; sore hernia), Chiozza secured a season-high with eight points by halftime and finished with 11 in 19 minutes.
Upon returning the locker room, he received an ovation from his teammates.
