Preview: Wizards at Warriors
The Golden State Warriors bounced back from their first loss in impressive fashion on Monday while showing off the full range of their offensive gifts. The Warriors will try to make it two in a row on Wednesday, when they host a Washington Wizards squad coming off their first victory.
Golden State came out flat and committed 19 turnovers in a 100-98 loss at Denver on Sunday but was a different team at home the next night, shooting 51.1 percent from the floor and cutting the turnovers to 14 in a 121-103 rout of the Phoenix Suns. "That looked like our team," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters. "The purpose of each possession, just driving and kicking and trying to get guys better shots and playing together. It was a good night." The Wizards began their five-game road trip by outlasting the Portland Trail Blazers 125-124 in overtime on Monday to earn their first win. "It was a great win for us," Washington coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "A lot of good plays, and finally, the ball bounced our way."
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (1-2): Washington rode a small-ball lineup featuring Markieff Morris at center to the win on Monday and plans to stick with that group whenever it needs a spark. "I think that’s the best basketball we played, obviously all year, but just for a while," shooting guard Bradley Beal told reporters. "Because it's fun out there. It’s fun. Everybody touched it. Everybody was involved and everything was clicking on both ends." Morris ended up scoring 28 points while going 6-of-10 from 3-point range in 25 minutes.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (3-1): Golden State has no problem going small and regularly uses power forward Draymond Green at the center spot, though the team is committed to working center Damion Jones into the mix. The 23-year-old Vanderbilt product scored 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting in Monday's win and is shooting 85 percent from the floor while averaging 21 minutes through the first four games. Superstar point guard Stephen Curry is off to a hot start as well and is averaging 30.5 points on 52.9 percent shooting, including 46.8 percent from 3-point range.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Washington C Dwight Howard (back) has yet to make his team debut and is not traveling with the team.
2. Warriors PG Shaun Livingston (knee) sat out the last two games and is questionable for Wednesday.
3. Golden State took both meetings last season and seven of the last eight in the series.
PREDICTION: Warriors 120, Wizards 106
The Golden State Warriors bounced back from their first loss in impressive fashion on Monday while showing off the full range of their offensive gifts. The Warriors will try to make it two in a row on Wednesday, when they host a Washington Wizards squad coming off their first victory.
Golden State came out flat and committed 19 turnovers in a 100-98 loss at Denver on Sunday but was a different team at home the next night, shooting 51.1 percent from the floor and cutting the turnovers to 14 in a 121-103 rout of the Phoenix Suns. "That looked like our team," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters. "The purpose of each possession, just driving and kicking and trying to get guys better shots and playing together. It was a good night." The Wizards began their five-game road trip by outlasting the Portland Trail Blazers 125-124 in overtime on Monday to earn their first win. "It was a great win for us," Washington coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "A lot of good plays, and finally, the ball bounced our way."
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (1-2): Washington rode a small-ball lineup featuring Markieff Morris at center to the win on Monday and plans to stick with that group whenever it needs a spark. "I think that’s the best basketball we played, obviously all year, but just for a while," shooting guard Bradley Beal told reporters. "Because it's fun out there. It’s fun. Everybody touched it. Everybody was involved and everything was clicking on both ends." Morris ended up scoring 28 points while going 6-of-10 from 3-point range in 25 minutes.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (3-1): Golden State has no problem going small and regularly uses power forward Draymond Green at the center spot, though the team is committed to working center Damion Jones into the mix. The 23-year-old Vanderbilt product scored 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting in Monday's win and is shooting 85 percent from the floor while averaging 21 minutes through the first four games. Superstar point guard Stephen Curry is off to a hot start as well and is averaging 30.5 points on 52.9 percent shooting, including 46.8 percent from 3-point range.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Washington C Dwight Howard (back) has yet to make his team debut and is not traveling with the team.
2. Warriors PG Shaun Livingston (knee) sat out the last two games and is questionable for Wednesday.
3. Golden State took both meetings last season and seven of the last eight in the series.
PREDICTION: Warriors 120, Wizards 106
