Forward Andrew Wiggins scored 40 points, second-year guard Jordan Poole added 25 and the Warriors won their first game this season in which guard Stephen Curry did not play.
With Curry sidelined with a bruised tailbone, the Warriors rode the Wiggins-Poole duo and got key contributions from others in a 116-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies Friday night.
The Warriors improved to 22-20 and have now won three of their last four. Poole replaced Curry in the starting lineup and, along with Wiggins, poured in points from all over the floor.
Wiggins shot 14 of 24, including 6 of 11 on 3-pointers as he notched his ninth career 40-point game. Poole, the No. 28 pick in the 2019 draft, made 10 of 15 shots and scored 20 or more points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. Center Kevon Looney scored 11 points and Golden State shot 48.4% overall.
As Wiggins headed to the bench in the final moments, he laughed with Kelly Oubre Jr. and dapped up Draymond Green as he proudly completed his best game in a Warriors uniform.
Wiggins and Poole made consecutive 3-pointers with 35.3 seconds left in the second quarter to cap a 26-7 run and give the Warriors a 67-46 lead. The Grizzlies (18-20) never got it close after that. Guard Damion Lee (21 points on 8-of-14 shooting) made a layup with 1:57 left in the third quarter to put Golden State up by 25.
This was an inspired performance by the Warriors, who had been 0-2 in games without Curry this season and were also missing rookie center James Wiseman and forward Eric Paschall due to NBA health and safety protocols. All three will likely be out for Saturday’s rematch, with Curry considered doubtful.
Ja Morant and Grayson Allen led the Grizzlies with 14 points apiece.
