SAN FRANCISCO — It wasn’t always pretty, but the Warriors got it done when it mattered most.
After a sluggish first half, Golden State’s offense found life in the final two quarters and held on to beat the last-place Washington Wizards 122-114 to open its two-game homestand.
Stephen Curry scored 26 points before suffering a minor ankle injury late, and Andrew Wiggins had a game-high 31 to lead Golden State. Dennis Schröder totaled 20 points and four assists. Moses Moody was big down the stretch for the Warriors as he scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half.
Draymond Green exited the game at the nine-minute mark of the first quarter and did not return. The team announced the injury was due to left calf tightness – an ailment that kept Green out back-to-back games in early December.
Washington Wizards’ Jordan Poole (13) falls backwards onto the right knee of Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) in the fourth quarter of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. Curry would limp off the court and leave the game after the play. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Washington Wizards 122-114. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Former Warrior Jordan Poole made his second appearance at Chase Center as a member of the Wizards and hit 8 of his 15 3-point attempts, finishing with 38 points to lead Washington.
“We knew what we lacked going into the third quarter,” said Warriors guard Gary Payton II. “We had to punch first and that’s what we did. We were down Draymond and we had to fill that presence.”
After Green’s exit, the Warriors struggled to stop the Wizards offense for the rest of the first half.
Washington led by seven after the first period and that lead ballooned to as much as 10 in the second quarter.
Poole hit five of his eight 3-point attempts and finished the half with 23 points to lead all scorers. Curry and Wiggins combined for 25 points to keep the Warriors within striking distance, but Golden State still trailed 60-53 at halftime.
The Warriors opened the third quarter on a 9-5 run and took a one-point lead later in the period on Wiggins’ corner 3-pointer on a pass from Schröder.
Golden State finished the quarter strong and took a 89-87 lead going into the final 12 minutes of play.
The teams went back-and-forth in the opening minutes of the fourth, but Golden State started to pull away late. The Warriors methodically picked apart the Wizards’ backline rotations, which led to open shots at the rim and on the perimeter.
Curry hit a 3-pointer at the 2:30 mark, giving the Warriors a 115-105 lead late in the fourth, but he did not finish the closing minute of the game after tweaking his left ankle.
The Warriors outscored the Wizards 18-11 in the final minutes of play to seal the victory.
Golden State has struggled to find a consistent No. 2 scoring option alongside Curry all season, but Wiggins stepped into that role comfortably on Saturday night. He scored 19 points in the second half and was the Warriors’ go-to scorer down the stretch.
“Andrew was great,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s been playing at a really high level all season The way things have evolved the last couple of weeks, we just really leaned into his scoring. So we’re trying to get him on the floor for all the non-Steph (Curry) minutes, running a lot of the offense through him.
“He’s doing a lot of good things for us, scoring in multiple ways. Tonight the way he rebounded, just played the total game. He was fantastic.”
Golden State will play eight of its next nine games at home and will host the Boston Celtics on Monday.
Warriors face an old friend
Poole seemed to enjoy being back in the place he called home for four seasons.
His first basket came in the opening minutes of the game on a long stepback 3-pointer on the left wing over Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Poole and the Warriors displayed some gamesmanship throughout the night.
In the middle of third, Poole hit a fallaway corner 3-pointer and had some friendly words for the Warriors bench as he jogged back on defense. During one of Poole’s free throw attempts, Payton untied Poole’s shoe.
“It’s always fun playing with Jordan, against Jordan,” Payton said. “I was with him all summer, so we’ve been at it all summer. So now it’s time to go to work, it makes it even more fun. But we were just messing around, trying to have fun.”
Injury updates
While Curry did not close the final minute of the game, Kerr and Curry confirmed the injury is not serious. He and Green are both considered day-to-day, but Curry is not expected to miss time.
Both Kerr and the team said making up for Green’s responsibilities on the court will be crucial as Golden State awaits his return.
“I mean, a lot changes. Draymond is someone you can’t replace,” Wiggins said. “His IQ, defensive ability, playmaking, all of that. Everybody collectively has to come up and fill his shoes. It’s going to be tough for sure but we have guys who can do it.”
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) blocks a shot by Washington Wizards’ Jordan Poole (13) in the fourth quarter of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Washington Wizards 122-114. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr yells at a player while playing the Washington Wizards in the third quarter of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Washington Wizards 122-114. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket against Washington Wizards’ Corey Kispert (24) in the second quarter of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Washington Wizards’ Jordan Poole (13) reacts after getting the basket and the foul against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) gets his shot blocked by Washington Wizards’ Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the first quarter of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) dunks the ball past Washington Wizards’ Jordan Poole (13) in the second quarter of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Dennis Schroder (71) goes up for a layup against the Washington Wizards in the second quarter of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) balances a ball on his neck while warming up before the start of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) walks on the court before their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Originally Published: January 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM PST
