OAKLAND -- For the sixth time in six games this season, the Warriors fell behind or frittered away a big lead. None of their fabled shooters was in a rhythm, and inspirational leader Draymond Green was ejected before halftime.
What to do? Where to turn?
The solutions were found among several of the players that spend most of their evenings sharing seats with the coaching staff.
David West provided plenty. Kevon Looney and Omri Casspi injected some timely energy and production.
"That was the story of the game," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "We needed our bench to get us settled down. We were just awful for two-and-a-half quarters. We finally kind of climbed back in it at the end of the third. It took our bench to really settle us down and get us into some kind of a groove at both ends of the floor."
West scored 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting, adding four rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot. Looney scored 9 points, making all four of his field goals, three of which were resounding dunks. Casspi scored 8 points, making 2-of-3 from the field, including his only 3-pointer.
"I just think (the bench wanted) to bring energy," Casspi said. "I felt like we were kind of slow. Pick up the defense, especially when they score 97 points in three quarters."
Sports
The Warriors began asserting themselves late in the third quarter, slicing what had been an 18-point deficit to 10 (97-87) entering the fourth.
With West and Casspi joining Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompson to open the fourth quarter, the Warriors needed less than four minutes to come within one before going ahead 102-101 on a West layup with 6:49 remaining.
The Wizards led by two (109-107) when Stephen Curry entered for Casspi and Looney replaced West with 4:32 left to play. A Looney dunk tied it and 109-109 with 4:21 left and another Looney slam put the Warriors ahead for good at 113-109 with 2:56 to play.
"If Draymond doesn't get kicked out, I don't think Omri gets in the game and I'm not sure Looney gets into the game," Kerr said.
"I just wanted to come in, play hard, rebound and do what I normally do," Looney said.
The Warriors bench squad shot 67.9 percent (19-of-28) in outscoring their Wizards counterparts 44-27. Washington's bench shot 33.3 percent (9-of-27).
It was enough to offset Green's absence, along with Klay Thompson, Curry and Durant combining to shot 41.4 percent (24-of-58).
