There's nothing quite like a desire for redemption to motivate an athlete. This was clearly the driving force for Andrew Wiggins during Wednesday's game, where he put on his most dominant show of the season so far, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 123-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves to secure their 10th win of the campaign.
In some cases all you really want is a tad of retribution to get you moving. That absolutely appeared to be the situation for Andrew Wiggins, who had his most impressive performance of the period — by a long shot — on Wednesday night, driving the Golden State Warriors the past the Minnesota Timberwolves the 123-110 for their 10th success of the period.
Right from the start, Wiggins looked determined to make a statement. It felt like he wanted to show his former franchise exactly what he's capable of, or perhaps he just found himself in a perfect scoring flow.
He ignited the game by scoring the Warriors' first seven points, setting the tone for a blistering first half. He finished the second quarter with 22 points, hitting every single one of his nine shots, including two from beyond the arc and two from the charity stripe.
This surge created one of the most commanding leads the Warriors have had all year. By halftime, Golden State was up by 15, and they managed to extend that gap to 20 points at one stage in the third quarter.
However, the Timberwolves refused to go away quietly. When Draymond Green was forced out of the game with a right thigh injury, Minnesota seized the opportunity. Led by a scorching Anthony Edwards—who poured in 48 points on 16-of-27 shooting—and bolstered by former Warrior D’Angelo Russell, the Wolves surged back to cut the lead to just four points.
But Golden State wasn't about to let the game slip. They regained control in the final frame, pushing the lead back into double digits. Steph Curry played his usual role, delivering a clinical performance with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. With Green sidelined, Kevon Looney stepped up in a massive way, playing most of the fourth quarter and contributing 11 points and 17 rebounds while locking down Karl-Anthony Towns. When it came time to seal the deal, the Warriors looked to Wiggins once again, who put an exclamation point on the victory against his old teammates.
Wiggins finished the night with an efficient 35 points on 14-of-19 shooting, extending Golden State's winning streak to six games—all by double-digit margins. Now sitting at a 10-1 record, the Dubs look to keep the momentum going this Friday against the Chicago Bulls.