Sports Pundit
Basketball

Warriors Coach Kerr: We'd be Dead Without Wiggins

NBA star Stephen Curry of Golden State Warriors  — Photo by ChinaImages
NBA star Stephen Curry of Golden State Warriors — Photo by ChinaImages

Oft-criticised All-Star Andrew Wiggins has earned praise from Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr after scoring 27 points in Sunday’s 109-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Wiggins was exceptional as the Warriors claimed a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals, shooting 11 of 20 from the field with 11 rebounds and three assists.

Stephen Curry top scored with 31 points including five three-pointers, along with Klay Thompson who added 19 points with three triples.

“He was phenomenal,” Kerr said about Wiggins. “Any time Wiggs gets a runway and he can go off two feet, it’s impressive to watch.

“He had one early in the season against Minnesota where he dunked on Karl-Anthony Towns, it reminded me of this one tonight.”

Kerr added: “It’s just so fun to see Wiggs playing at this level, getting his due (reward). We’d be dead without him.

“He’s spending every second guarding Luka Doncic, it’s such a difficult job and we have to have Wiggs and he’s doing a great job.”

Doncic still scored 40 points for the Mavericks, but shot 11 of 23 from the field, making four of nine from beyond the arc.

Among Wiggins’ highlights was a big poster dunk over Doncic, which underlined his fine showing.

“He’s looking like Dominique Wilkins out there,” Thompson said about Wiggins.

On being posterized for Wiggins’ dunk, Doncic said: “I got hit a little bit, but that was impressive.

“I’m not going to lie. I saw the video again, and I was like, ‘Oh…’ That was pretty incredible. I wish had those bunnies.”