• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

San Francisco Sports Today

San Francisco Sports News Continuously Updated

  • Baseball
    • A’s
    • Giants
  • Football
    • 49’ers
    • Raiders
  • Basketball
    • Kings
    • Warriers
  • Sharks
  • Earthquakes
  • Colleges
    • San Jose State
    • Stanford
    • University of California, Berkeley

Player grades: Warriors vs. Thunder

January 30, 2025 by Golden State Of Mind

Kevon Looney attempting a layup while defended by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

Assessing every Golden State player’s performance in the team’s 116-109 win over Oklahoma City.

Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. Has everyone’s heart rate settled down yet? The Golden State Warriors pulled off one of their best wins of the season on Wednesday night, overcoming a 14-point deficit to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder — owners of the best record in the NBA — on the back end of a back-to-back, 116-109. And it wasn’t just an important win, but a thrilling one, too.

So let’s grade the players who pulled off the improbable, and reminded us of how good the Dubs are capable of being when things click. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.

Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Wednesday’s games, league-average TS was 57.4%.

Andrew Wiggins

38 minutes, 27 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 10-for-17 shooting, 5-for-8 threes, 2-for-3 free throws, 73.7% TS, +14

Where to focus with Wiggins?

On the fact that he played 38 minutes and 21 seconds in a highly-intense game, just 24 hours after playing 33 minutes and 14 seconds?

On the fact that he led the team in scoring, with elite efficiency?

On the fact that his shots were outrageously timely, such as a buzzer-beating three to gain some momentum going into halftime, or a shot-clock beating three to push the lead to seven with a minute-and-a-half remaining?

On the tenacious defense and excellent effort?

Take your pick. The grade’s the same, regardless.

WIGGINS…HOW!?

@NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/vcWy70vzjV

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 30, 2025

Grade: A+
Post-game bonus: Led the team in points, tied for the best plus/minus on the team.

Gary Payton II

25 minutes, 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, 4 fouls, 5-for-7 shooting, 5-for-5 free throws, 81.5% TS, +12

The turnovers are the only stain on GPII’s game and I’ll have to rewatch the tape because honestly, I don’t remember any of them, other than a rebound where he got pushed out of bounds and no foul was called. So I’m going to give him a pass and assume the others were similar, because it sure didn’t feel like his sloppiness was a factor in this game.

His endless energy and athleticism rebounding the ball was, though. His fantastic defense — the only Warrior who was able to slow down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, at all — was. His cutting to the rim was.

And the cherry on the cake? A poster of seven-foot Isaiah Hartenstein to seal the deal and send everyone home happy.

What a POSTER GARY PAYTON II.

pic.twitter.com/JIPwFLkVNw

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 30, 2025

Grade: A+
Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds.

Quinten Post

8 minutes, 0 points, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, -11

Post got his first career start and, ironically enough, played his worst career game. His early struggles mixed with Kevon Looney’s excellence meant that he didn’t really get a second chance in this game. That’ll come Friday, when he’ll likely be back in the lineup … perhaps not the starting lineup, though.

Grade: C-

Buddy Hield

15 minutes, 5 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2-for-6 shooting, 1-for-4 threes, 41.7% TS, +7

Hield once again struggled shooting. He’s just 3-for-21 from distance over the last four games. Dating back to the Christmas game, Hield has made just 33 of his last 124 triples. It’s ugly!

But on the bright side, this was another game where he found ways to help the team even when he wasn’t scoring. He’s had at least as many assists as made shots in six of his last nine games, and played pretty good defense in this one. And props to Steve Kerr, who appears more comfortable cutting Hield’s minutes when the shot isn’t falling.

Grade: C

Steph Curry

33 minutes, 21 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 fouls, 6-for-15 shooting, 5-for-10 threes, 4-for-4 free throws, 62.6%, -2

Curry got dominated by Gilgeous-Alexander in the first half, getting outscored 31-4. It was a much more even second half, with SGA mildly outscoring Curry 21-17.

But Curry’s team got the W, and that’s all that matters. Steph emerged from his slump in the second half with some true offensive wizardry that was timely as all get out. He had some of the biggest shots and some of the most important passes of the game.

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN CURRY

@NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/lzgT47ULgN

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 30, 2025

It’s pretty clear that teams are directing all their defensive energy at stopping Curry, and it’s working more often than the chef would wish. But he still reminds us regularly that he’s a superstar, and give him space at your own peril.

Grade: B+

Moses Moody

17 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2-for-8 shooting, 0-for-6 threes, 1-for-2 free throws, 28.2% TS, +5

Moody had a poor shooting game, but his aggression on offense still created a lot of opportunities for the Warriors. I’m really enjoying seeing how much his intensity and aggression are getting dialed up a notch, even if his streak of seven consecutive games with double figures came to an end.

Grade: C

Kevon Looney

25 minutes, 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks, 3 fouls, 5-for-7 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, 8-for-9 free throws, 82.1% TS, +14

I’m sorry, what world are we living in? I would have guessed three points and 18 rebounds a million times before guessing 18 points and three rebounds for Looney.

But the rebound numbers don’t tell the story. Looney patrolled the glass, he just did so in a manner that allowed his teammates to grab the boards. He was a force in the paint, as evidenced by the four blocks, which were so impressive. And he was spectacular on offense (more spectacular than the numbers suggest, as one of his two misses was a desperation three-point heave to beat the first-quarter buzzer). And for one night at least, Looney put his season-long free throw woes behind him.

Dubs are up!

@NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/0Jf5yWJrKZ

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 30, 2025

The Warriors don’t win this game without Looney. Feels like I’ve said that an awful lot of times this year for a backup center on a mediocre team.

Grade: A+
Post-game bonus: Tied for the best plus/minus on the team.

Gui Santos

19 minutes, 3 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, 1-for-3 shooting, 0-for-2 threes, 1-for-1 free throws, 43.6% TS, -12

Santos’ offense has cooled down over the last few games, but it hasn’t impacted his defense, rebounding, or energy. And, impressively for a young player, he hasn’t been forcing on offense. When he’s not open, he’s simply keeping the ball moving.

He reminds me of Moody in that regard: even when the shots aren’t falling, you know the energy and intelligence are going to play. He still has to learn how to defend without fouling a little bit, though.

Grade: C+
Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team.

Dennis Schröder

26 minutes, 9 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 4-for-8, 1-for-4 threes, 0-for-2 free throws, 50.7% TS, +3

Schröder is starting to look a lot more comfortable with the Warriors. It still wasn’t a great scoring game for him, but not in a worrisome way. He led the second unit well, worked with Curry well, and got the team set in their offensive system. And yet again, his intensity, competitive spirit, and attitude played a huge role for a Warriors team that has been in dire need of swagger.

Grade: B
Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists.

Brandin Podziemski

18 minutes, 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 foul, 4-for-6 shooting, 1-for-3 threes, 2-for-2 free throws, 79.9% TS, +1

It really shouldn’t be surprising that Podziemski is such a good clutch player, since he’s so fearless and cocky. But it still impresses me how much he shows up in the moments that wilt so many players. He seems to thrive on having the ball in his hands when a lead is shrinking, or there’s a chance to shut the door on another team. Also, since returning from injury, he’s had just four turnovers in about 95 minutes of action. The Warriors sure seem like a different team when he’s healthy.

Brandin stepback and it’s cash

@NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/i3rKNOL8VI

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 30, 2025

Grade: A

Kyle Anderson

15 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 1-for-4 shooting, 25.0% TS, +4

The stats don’t show it, but this was a really good game from Slo Mo, who put in some huge second-half minutes. He steadied the ship, played excellent defense, and had one of the biggest shots of the game.

Grade: B+

Wednesday’s DNPs: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Lindy Waters III

Wednesady’s inactives: Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Jackson Rowe, Pat Spencer

Filed Under: Warriers

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • What should the 49ers expect from Mykel Williams in 2025?
  • 3 questions surrounding the 49ers’ wide receivers: Is the position deep enough?
  • 49ers reveal training camp schedule and dates
  • Rooker Joins Home Run Derby
  • Much Of The A’s Defense Is In A Strange Position — Out Of

Categories

  • 49'ers
  • A's
  • Earthquakes
  • Giants
  • Kings
  • Raiders
  • San Jose State
  • Sharks
  • Stanford
  • Uncategorized
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • Warriers

Archives

  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021

Our Partners

All Sports

  • San Francisco Chronicle
  • San Francisco Examiner
  • The Mercury News
  • 247 Sports
  • Bleacher Report
  • Forgotten 5
  • Golden Gate Sports
  • The Sports Fan Journal
  • The Spun
  • USA Today

Baseball

  • San Francisco Giants
  • Oakland A's
  • Last Word On Baseball - Oakland A's
  • Last Word On Baseball - San Francisco Giants
  • MLB Trade Rumors - A's
  • MLB Trade Rumors - Giants
  • White Cleat Beat
  • Around The Foghorn
  • Athletics Nation
  • McCovey Chronicles

Basketball

  • Golden State Warriors
  • Sacramento Kings
  • A Royal Pain
  • Amico Hoops - Kings
  • Amico Hoops - Warriors
  • Blue Man Hoop
  • Golden State Of Mind
  • Hoops Hype - Warriors
  • Hoops Hype - Kings
  • Hoops Rumors - Warriors
  • Hoops Rumors - Kings
  • Lets Go Warriors
  • Last Word On Pro Basketball - Golden State
  • Last Word On Pro Basketball - Sacramento
  • Pro Basketball Talk - Warriors
  • Pro Basketball Talk - Kings
  • Real GM - Warriors
  • Real GM - Kings
  • Sactown Royalty

Football

  • San Francisco 49ers
  • Las Vegas Raiders
  • 49ers Gab
  • Just Blog Baby
  • Last Word On Pro Football
  • NFL Trade Rumors - San Francisco 49ers
  • NFL Trade Rumors - Las Vegas Raiders
  • Niners Nation
  • Niner Noise
  • Niners Wire
  • Our Turf Football
  • Pro Football Rumors - 49ers
  • Pro Football Rumors - Raiders
  • Pro Football Talk - 49ers
  • Pro Football Talk - Raiders
  • Raiders Wire
  • Silver And Black Pride
  • Total 49ers

Hockey

  • Blades Of Teal
  • Fear The Fin
  • Last Word On Hockey
  • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Talk
  • The Hockey Writers

Soccer

  • Center Line Soccer
  • Last Word on Soccer
  • MLS Multiplex

College

  • Busting Brackets
  • California Golden Blogs
  • College Sports Madness
  • College Football News
  • Rule Of Tree
  • Saturday Blitz
  • The Daily Californian
  • The Stanford Daily
  • Zags Blog

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in