Golden State is one win away from the NBA Championship thanks to a standout performance from Andrew Wiggins in Game 5. Warriors fans loved it.
Game 5 of the 2022 NBA Finals will go down as The Andrew Wiggins Game for good reason.
Wiggins went off against the Celtics in Game 5, leading the Warriors to a 104-94 victory and a 3-2 series lead. He finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.
The performance couldn’t have come at a better time. Stephen Curry was off his game after an epic Game 4. As the MVP favorite went 0-for-6 from the three-point line and managed just 16 points, Golden State leaned on Wiggins instead.
Warriors fans and NBA neutrals couldn’t be happier to see the former No. 1 overall pick come up big in a critical moment.
The Andrew Wiggins redemption tour took over Game 5
WIGGINS!
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) June 14, 2022
The Andrew Wiggins Game 🔥
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 14, 2022
◽️ 26 PTS
◽️ 13 REB
AND THE EXCLAMATION POINT‼️
🎥 @NBATV pic.twitter.com/FA98nBnYnB
andrew wiggins really woke up this morning and said “i’m gonna go be the best player in a finals game tonight”
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) June 14, 2022
Andrew Wiggins pic.twitter.com/heRU9lW1HI
— Joy Taylor (@JoyTaylorTalks) June 14, 2022
With the Celtics (finally) playing to take away Curry, the Warriors needed someone else to feast on the one-on-one opportunities. Wiggins took advantage of the space to operate and got up a postseason career-high 23 shots
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) June 14, 2022
Andrew Wiggins is one win from an NBA championship. Absolutely love this moment for him.
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) June 14, 2022
https://twitter.com/OMGItsBirdman/status/1536551751188369414
THIS IS AN ANDREW WIGGINS APPRECIATION TWEET pic.twitter.com/c2EqmGn5Y3
— r/Warriors 🏆 (@GSWReddit) June 14, 2022
Players to record back to back games of 17+ points, 13+ rebounds and 1+ steal against the Celtics in the Finals, last 40 years:
— WarriorsMuse (@WarriorsMuse) June 14, 2022
Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Hakeem Olajuwon
ANDREW WIGGINS pic.twitter.com/1XgQfQhl7Y
The Warriors enjoyed their home court advantage for much of the night on Monday, jumping out to a lead as big as 16 points. However, Boston took a page out of Golden State’s playbook and came out with a huge third quarter to briefly take the lead.
Steve Kerr’s squad was resilient though. They fought back, retook the lead and cruised to victory.
The series now heads back to Boston for a potentially decisive Game 6. The Celtics must win to force a Game 7. The Warriors can clinch the title with a win of their own.
Will Curry solidify his legacy with another NBA Championship and perhaps a Finals MVP award? Will Wiggins continue to play like a No. 1 overall pick? Will Jayson Tatum and company even the score?
It’ll all be sorted out on Thursday, June 16 with Game 6.