SAN FRANCISCO -- The storylines of the Warriors' 111-107 comeback win Saturday night over the Utah Jazz to clinch a spot in the NBA playoffs were loud, obvious and in your face.
Klay Thompson exploded for 36 points, scoring 24 in the second half. Jordan Poole continued his rise as the Warriors' newest star, igniting the offense early to avoid falling into a disastrous hole and finishing with 31 points, his 16th straight game of scoring at least 20 points. Draymond Green pushed the pace, was Golden State's defensive anchor and nearly produced his first triple-double since Dec. 20, 2021, with 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Even Gary Payton II's impact off the bench turned the volume up all throughout Chase Center.
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Then there was Andrew Wiggins, playing the role of silent All-Star and being exactly what this team needs when the roster completely comes together.
"I think when our team makes sense, Andrew gets comfortable," Steve Kerr said Saturday night after the win. "In the last six weeks, he's been maybe a focal point in terms of his struggles, our struggles -- but our team has been scattered over the last six weeks with the injuries, the absences, shifting lineups, playing guys in different roles.
"Andrew is best suited to play a specific role and give us 35 minutes, 33 minutes of on-ball defense and be a support offensive player like he was tonight: Knocking down threes, getting some layups in transition and in the halfcourt. He was a plus-26 tonight, just rock-solid."
Wiggins fit his role down to its very definition. He scored 17 points over 33 minutes while going 7-for-10 from the field and 3-for-4 from deep. From tip-off to the final buzzer, Wiggins didn't force his way through the game, had an 85 percent true-shooting percentage and 7.2 box plus-minus. The Warriors were a minus-22 without him on the floor and he finished with a plus-48 net rating.
His plus-minus was his highest since Nov. 21, 2021, and his second-highest on the season.
Wiggins' big game might have been easy to miss, which is a welcome change from his clear disappearing act ever since being named an All-Star for the first time. That is, except for his latest poster dunk, this one coming against three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
Much of Wiggins' efficient performance can be tied to who was on the court around him. Aside from Steph Curry, and of course James Wiseman, the Warriors are at their healthiest in months. Klay is back, as is Draymond and Andre Iguodala. Poole keeps giving Golden State his best Steph impression, and the Splash Step Brothers earning the attention of Utah's defense while combining for 67 points only freed Wiggins up that much more.
The role was presented to him, and he took advantage of it.
Golden State Warriors
"I think that's the biggest thing," Kerr said. "When we're right, Andrew's right. He fits into what we're trying to do."
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He won't have to fit the bill of a former No. 1 pick for the Warriors to win. He doesn't even need to be whatever the outside considers a star. Wiggins just has to do what the Warriors brought him in for at its simplest form: Play strong defense on the wings and hit open shots when they're there.
On the right roster, Wiggins can thrive in that role and be a central piece to a championship contender. Through the first half of the season, he did exactly that. All that's missing now for the Warriors is their superstar point guard.
Next on the list for their first-time All-Star is consistency, a trait he displayed for a full game at the perfect time to help give the Warriors their biggest win of the season.