Why Wiggins’ adductor injury isn’t concerning to Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SAN FRANCISCO — Coming off his best game of the season, and one of the best of his career, the Warriors will be without Andrew Wiggins against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night at the Chase Center.
Wiggins was ruled out earlier Monday with right adductor tightness. Luckily for the Warriors, they don’t expect to be without Wiggins for a long time.
When asked if he’s concerned about Wiggins’ injury status, Kerr didn’t take long to answer.
“No,” Kerr said without hesitation.
Kerr could not comment on when the injury occurred. He also did not elaborate if Wiggins’ injury is essentially a “groin strain.” The tentative plan is for the Warriors to practice Tuesday in San Francisco before flying to Utah for their game Wednesday against the Jazz. It’s unknown at this point if Wiggins will join the Warriors for the quick one-game road trip.
The two games Wiggins has missed previously this season, he was listed out with left foot soreness.
Wiggins on Saturday night scored a season-high 36 points over 34 minutes in the Warriors’ win over the Houston Rockets. The All-Star forward was sinking shots everywhere, going 14-for-19 from the field and 8-for-10 behind the 3-point line. His eight 3-pointers tied a career high.
For good measure, Wiggins also added five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Stuffing the box score led to his plus-34 in plus/minus.
That’s how the season has gone for Wiggins through his first 22 games. Following his four-year, $109 million contract extension signed right before the regular season began, Wiggins has been everything Kerr and the Warriors could have hoped for. He is now averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.
The 27-year-old has also turned into an ultra-reliable shooter in the early portions of his third full season as a Warrior. After his red-hot performance against the Rockets, Wiggins is now shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 45 percent from 3-point range. Both are career highs, as are his rebounds and steals.
His eight 3-pointers last game did not only tie his career high, his 80-percent clip pushed him past Steph Curry as the Warriors’ most accurate shooter from long distance this season.
With Wiggins out, Jordan Poole will start at shooting guard for the Warriors vs. the Pacers, sliding Klay Thompson to small forward. Poole was listed as questionable Monday morning after rolling his left ankle last game, and was upgraded to probable two-and-a-half hours prior to tipoff.
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Kerr said Moses Moody should also have another big opportunity. Playing his first meaningful minutes in nearly a month, Moody played 17 minutes off the bench Saturday night, scoring 11 points while making all three of his 3-point attempts.
Take a sigh of relief, Wiggins should be back in no time.
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