TORONTO — Andrew Wiggins rejoined his team in his hometown of Toronto after missing the past two games for personal reasons, setting him up to play against the Raptors on Monday night.
Wiggins, 29, flew back from Detroit to the Bay Area earlier this week, missing Golden State’s back-to-back for personal reasons Steve Kerr said would be short-term. Kerr expects Wiggins to suit up against the Raptors.
“We love Wiggs, need Wiggs,” Steph Curry said after the Warriors’ practice in the Scotiabank Arena. “We’re not complete without him. With (Jonathan Kuminga) being out, it’s even more of an emphasis with him on the wing. We need him, for sure.”
Wiggins has never played against the Raptors in Toronto as a Warrior. In fact, the last time Wiggins played an NBA game in Toronto was in 2018. The only time between then and Monday he played against the Raptors on the road was when Toronto was playing its home games in Tampa, Florida because of the pandemic.
Kuminga is in a walking boot and not expected to return from his significant ankle sprain for at least another two weeks. Earlier this week, the Warriors played a game without Wiggins, Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski and Gary Payton II, leaving them almost completely bereft of wings. Gui Santos seized the opportunity well with his energy, but he’s not a viable option long-term.
