Wizards vs. Warriors final score: Washington fails to slow Golden State down in 139-115 loss

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Shaun Livingston combined for 82 points and Draymond Green put up a triple-double as the Wizards were dealt a 139-115 loss in Oakland on Sunday night.

Both teams got off to a blistering starting with the Wizards shooting 52 percent in the first frame and the Warriors shooting 58 percent. Bradley Beal and Stephen Curry were both on fire from three point range, combining to make six threes in the first quarter.

The Wizards struggled getting back in transition, giving up a number of easy baskets after the Warriors pushed the pace early on, which helped Golden State get out to an eight point lead in the first quarter. The Wizards’ second unit got in to the game and struggled to cut into the lead turning the ball over numerous times leading to more transition points for the Warriors.

The Wizards decided to go small, with Markieff Morris in playing center and it paid dividends with a 10-2 run which got them back in the game. But then the Warriors responded with their own 12-4 run to take a double-digit lead into the locker room at halftime.

In the second half, the Warriors opened the game up running Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson off of screens and the Wizards struggled to adjust, as the lead ballooned to 22 points in the third quarter.

With the game seemingly out of reach, the Wizards’ bench sparked a comeback and got it back to a single-digit game. Unfortunately, the Warriors got hot again, and put the game away for good. Despite the comeback, the bench finished the game giving the starters much needed rest with the game decisively in hand.

Game Notes

Bench Production Was Decisive in the First Half in favor for the Warriors

Washington’s starters did a good job of keeping pace with the Warriors for a majority of the 1st half, but the bench was simply ineffective on both ends of the court. In the first half, the Warriors’ bench outscored the Wizards’ bench 28-11, led by Shaun Livingston, who had 10 points, and Andre Iguodala, who had 9.

The bench played much better in the second half, slowing down the Warriors offense and getting some timely shots. By the end of the third quarter the game looked all but over, but the Wizards bench was able to reduce the lead all the way down to 9. Despite their improved play, it was simply not enough. The Warriors put the game out of reach and cruised for much of the 4th quarter despite the comeback.

Defense Continues to Be An Issue

The Wizards allowed a team to shoot 50 percent or more for the third time on the five-game road trip and gave up over 130 points for the second time on the trip. The Warriors ended the game shooting 56 percent and 44 percent from 3 point range.

Drowned By the Splash Brothers

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson put on quite a shooting display. Curry, in particular, scored 42 points, including shooting 9 for 14 from three point range. Klay Thompson wasn’t to shabby himself, putting up 23 points. Both players’ shooting paced the Warriors in the third quarter and expanded the Warriors’ lead. The Wizards had no answers for either one of them.

50 Wins looking bleak

With the loss, the Wizards will need to win four out of the last five games to finish with a 50-win season. Getting to 50 would be a nice way to end the season after struggling on the back end of this tough West Coast road trip, but the Wizards will need to play better, particularly on the defensive end to close the season.