In the latter part of the first half, Brandin Podziemski intercepted a pass, skillfully preventing it from going out of bounds, and Gary Payton II capitalized on the rookie’s save, setting up Jonathan Kuminga for a spectacular two-handed dunk with a behind-the-back pass. At that moment, Golden State registered its seventh steal and capitalized on the Wizards’ 12th turnover, all without Steph Curry’s involvement.
Despite Curry’s third consecutive subdued performance, the Warriors’ bench, featuring future Hall of Famers Chris Paul and Klay Thompson, delivered a strong performance, propelling Golden State to a 123-112 victory over the Wizards to kick off their four-game East Coast trip.
In his return since fracturing his hand on Jan. 5, Paul showcased his prowess with 9 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals, while Thompson contributed 25 points in 27 minutes. The Warriors’ bench, scoring 59 points, compensated for Curry’s challenging night, where he went 6-for-21 and remained scoreless in the first half.
Jordan Poole, facing his former team for the second time, came off the bench, draining a 3-pointer over Curry and finishing with 12 points, six turnovers, and a technical foul in 29 minutes.
The Warriors forced 21 turnovers, dominating the third quarter with a 21-point advantage. Paul’s return solidified the Warriors’ second unit, featuring Thompson, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Dario Saric, who played a pivotal role in a 12-0 run during a 50-second stretch.
Despite Moody and Paul playing well, the Warriors held only a two-point lead at halftime, with Curry going scoreless and missing all six of his 3-point attempts.
Curry’s early struggles continued, making only one of his last 16 3-point attempts across six quarters. However, a 25-6 run in the third quarter, fueled by Paul, Thompson, and Payton, propelled the Warriors to a 23-point lead. In the fourth quarter, despite a Wizards comeback attempt, Curry found his rhythm, hitting crucial shots to secure the win.
