While the Bucks had decided to send double-deal after double-deal on Stephen Curry, the Wizards decided to defend him in a more classic way. It was enough for the double MVP, who gave us an electric performance to celebrate his 34th birthday, the return of Draymond Green, and the first match of the Curry – Green -Thompson trio for more than 1,000 days!
After a first quarter that gives pride of place to two attacks (33-30), the Warriors take out the barbed wire before the break. They limit the Wizards to 7 of 20 on shots as the Curry–Poole–Green trio extend their team’s lead from +4 to +19. It takes two shots from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the last minute to allow Washington to limit the damage (73-57).
The awakenings of Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma send the Wizards back under the ten-point mark but Stephen Curry, already hot in the first half, scores 14 of Golden State’s last 17 points in the third quarter to put the visitors back in the ropes (101-84). However, Washington does not abdicate. They take advantage of a shortage of nearly four minutes from Golden State to return again to -9 (110-101).
But as in the third quarter time, Curry makes everyone agree. He came back into play and scored 13 points in a row to destroy the last hopes of the Wizards and confirm Golden State’s 4th straight victory.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Warriors attack at full throttle. While the Curry-Thompson-Poole combination had allowed Steve Kerr to get his offense back on track after five straight losses, the return of Draymond Green added the bond the Warriors had lost since his absence. In each of his appearances on the court, the power winger knocked the ball down, allowing his teammates to be on pace against an overwhelmed Wizards. The Dubs not only finished the encounter with 26 assists but also had 40% long-range skill. The eight Warriors who took at least one award-winning shot all hit the mark from afar.
– The young Wizards are showing their advantage. Besides the good performance of Kristaps Porzingis, Washington received a good contribution off the bench from Rui Hachimura and Deni Avdija. Well surrounded by the Latvian and by the experience of Ish Smith, the 2019 and 2020 Draft picks of the Wizards scored 25 points between them at 9 of 15 on shots. Add to that the fine outing of Daniel Gafford, also drafted in 2019, and Washington has an interesting base of young players to develop to support Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Kuzma and Bradley Beal, if he stays, next season.
– Draymond Green back as a substitute. Back after almost two and a half months of absence, Draymond Green has not recovered his starting place, the fault of a playing time limited to 20 minutes. Steve Kerr explained before the meeting that it is difficult with such a restriction to ensure that Draymond Green is on the field at the end of the match, unless he starts on the bench. The Warriors had the same problem with Klay Thompson when he returned and learned from it. Draymond Green, however, is expected to return to the starting five in Sunday’s game against San Antonio.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Stephen Curry. For his 34th birthday, the double MVP did not give the Wizards any gift. He finished with 47 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, and 7 of 14 three-pointers.
✅ Jordan Poole/Klay Thompson. In the absence of Andrew Wiggins, the two gunslingers were also to their advantage, scoring 20 points each. This is the seventh straight game with 20 or more points for Jordan Poole.
✅ Draymond Green. Successful return for the hub of the Warriors attack. In just 20 minutes of play, he blackened the stat sheet with 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists and his team’s best +/- at +24.
✅ Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian pivot was his team’s best player. He compiled 25 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, keeping the Wizards in ambush in the second half.
⛔ Kyle Kuzma. The former Laker was just 4 of 12 on shots tonight and struggled to find his rhythm against the Warriors’ defensive aggression.
THE FOLLOWING
Golden State (47-22): the Warriors continue at the Chase Center against the Celtics on Wednesday
Washington (29-38): Wizards host Nuggets on Wednesday
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