Draymond Green provided an offensive spark down the stretch, and the Golden State Warriors benefitted from a key reversal of a late call as they rallied for a 127-118 victory over the host Washington Wizards in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee game on Monday afternoon.
Stephen Curry finished with a game-high 41 points and Jordan Poole added 32 for the Warriors, who won on the second day of a back-to-back while resting Klay Thompson.
Kristaps Porzingis poured in a team-high 32 points for the Wizards, who were hoping to see the return of injured guard Bradley Beal from a hamstring injury, but he was deemed unready to play after a pregame examination.
After an entertaining first half that featured 25 points by Porzingis and a 23-point second quarter by Poole, the Warriors found themselves down 106-98 following two Daniel Gafford free throws with 9:31 to go.
Golden State responded with a game-winning push, one that featured a 3-pointer, two layups and a free throw by the defensive-minded Green, who had 11 of his 17 points in the final period.
Green’s free throw gave Golden State a 118-114 advantage with 2:41 to go, before it appeared the Wizards would cut significantly into the deficit on a Kyle Kuzma layup on which Anthony Lamb was whistled for a foul.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr challenged the call and got a reversal, and Kuzma was nailed with a charging foul that negated the basket and returned possession to the Warriors, still up by four.
Curry then capped his big day with a hoop and two free throws and Poole added his seventh 3-pointer in 13 attempts, helping the Warriors ease away to a second win in three games on their ongoing trip.
Curry shot 12-for-28 with six 3-pointers and Poole went 12-for-20 in their combined 73-point effort. Each found time for seven rebounds.
Green completed a double-double with a team-high 10 assists, while Andrew Wiggins added 14 points, Donte DiVincenzo 11 and Lamb 10 for the Warriors, who will visit the White House as the 2022 NBA champions on an off day Tuesday.
Porzingis got double-double help from Monte Morris (17 points, 10 assists) and Kuzma (16 points, game-high 11 rebounds) as Washington ended a four-game homestand 1-3.
Rui Hachimura chipped in with 16 points and Gafford had 14.
–Field Level Media