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One of the most significant issues the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors have had to deal with this season, outside of Draymond Green punching teammate Jordan Poole before the season, has been the absence of Andrew Wiggins.
As arguably the team’s best defender, or at least in the conversation for that distinction with Green, Wiggins not being around has taken a toll on this team, with Golden State unable to see what this team can do at full strength this year.
Although Wiggins’ absence has been a bit of a distraction, with no telling when he’d return, the Warriors got some excellent news ahead of their first-round playoff series against the Sacramento Kings.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Wiggins has been given the green light to play in Game 1 in Sacramento.
Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins is cleared to play in Game 1 vs. Kings on Saturday, his first game since Feb. 13. Golden State is leaning toward Wiggins coming off the bench in a 20-to-25 minute playing time role, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 13, 2023
There’s no doubt that Wiggins will be rusty and will need some time to get back to form as one of the best players on the squad, but this is great news for the Warriors, who are gearing up for a run at a repeat.
Not only does Wiggins bring some much-needed intensity on the defensive end of the basketball floor, but he can also get it done in the scoring department, making the Warriors a very dangerous team moving forward.
Golden State lucked out getting the Kings in this first-round matchup, as travel will be limited, and Sacramento’s inexperience in the playoffs will likely come into play against one of the most successful postseason teams in the playoffs this year.
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