https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/andrew-wiggins-klay-thompson-win-bulls/1691180/

What we learned as Wiggs, Klay fuel Warriors' win over Bulls

By Michael Wagaman

• Published January 12, 2024

Klay Thompson scored 17 of his team-high 30 points during a pivotal
third quarter that evoked memories of the Warriors' championship
seasons, and they looked like a much different team than they had been
earlier in the week as Golden State began their road trip with a 140-131
win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night at United Center.

Thompson’s big night came despite another slow start for the five-time
All-Star. He made five of his six attempts and had three assists in the
third quarter, as Golden State rebounded from back-to-back beatings by
the New Orleans Pelicans and Toronto Raptors at Chase Center.

Stephen Curry overcame his own shooting woes and had 27 points, nine
assists and five rebounds. Jonathan Kuminga scored 24 points while
Andrew Wiggins, back in the starting lineup, chipped in with 17 points
and eight rebounds.

The Warriors (18-20) trailed by double digits most of the first half
when they allowed 75 points to the Bulls (18-22), but turned things
around in the third before holding off a late Chicago surge.

In a major change from the homestand, the Warriors came out and played
hard and were energetic out of the gate, especially on the defensive
side. They had three steals while the Bulls committed five turnovers in
the first 12 minutes when the Warriors built a 33-30 lead.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, a member of Chicago’s 1995-96 NBA
championship team, was inducted into the Bulls' inaugural Ring of Honor
during a halftime ceremony. He took a break from usual halftime routine
to take part in the event.

Here are the takeaways from the Warriors' win:

Wiggins starts, provides energy

Kerr trotted out yet another new starting five, adding Wiggins and Dario
Saric to the group with Curry, Thompson, Kevon Looney.

The switch in lineups resulted in an obvious change in energy and
production that was vastly different from the homestand.

Wiggins and Saric combined for 18 of the Warriors’ first 23 points.
Wiggins hit his first shot, a 3-pointer, than later added an emphatic
two-handed dunk.

Saric nailed his first three shots, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Wiggins shot 8 of 13 while Daric put up 12 points, seven rebounds and
six assists.

Third-quarter blitz

One of the Warriors’ trademarks during their championship days was their
ability to dominate teams in the third quarter. Those good times after
halftime have been few and far between this season, but they brought
back some of those old memories with a magnificent third quarter in Chicago.

Led by 17 points from Thompson, the Warriors held a 48-20 scoring
advantage in the period and turned a 75-62 deficit into a 110-95 lead
heading into the fourth quarter. The 48 points are a season-high for
Golden State in any quarter.

The Warriors did a great job on both ends of the floor, forcing four
turnovers while limiting the Bulls to 7 of 21 shooting. That helped sway
the momentum back in Golden State’s favor and they were able to ride it
to the finish.

Klay salvages unsteady backcourt

During a night when the Warriors got very little successful shooting and
scoring from their backcourt, Thompson overcame his own rough night and
finished as one of Golden State’s better players.

Thompson missed six of his first eight shots, including an air-ball from
3-point range that didn’t even reach the net, before he found his
rhythm. The veteran wing, who hit a pair of 3s coming out of halftime,
made seven of his last seven shots.

Curry made up for his own slow start and connected on several key shots
down the stretch to help seal the win.

Brandin Podziemski was held to five points on 2-of-8 shooting. Cory
Joseph scored two points.

This is a game where the loss of injured Moses Moody definitely was felt.