WASHINGTON – It’s on to the White House for the Warriors, who can celebrate their NBA 2015 championship in the wake of a victory in the nation’s capital.
The Warriors once again gave back a big lead but were able to hang on for a 134-121 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday before a sellout crowd at Verizon Center.
Steph Curry scored a game-high 51 points – 25 in the first quarter – to win a spirited battle of point guards with Washington’s John Wall, who finished with 41. Curry's 11 made 3-pointers matched a career-high.
Three other Warriors scored in double figures, as Klay Thompson totaled 24 points, while Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes each tossed in 12. Green posted his second consecutive triple-double, 10th overall, adding 12 assists and 10 rebounds to his points total.
The Warriors (45-4) concluded a sweep of their three-game East Coast road trip while also pushing their win streak to eight.
The Warriors took the lead three minutes after tipoff and never lost it, surviving several Wizards rallies. The Warriors pulled away despite committing 18 turnovers, off which Washington (21-26) scored 24 points.
The Warriors on Thursday visit the White House for a ceremony with President Barack Obama.
Sports
STANDOUT PERFORMER:
Curry stole the show early and clutched it to his chest for the entire evening.
Curry scored 25 points in the first quarter, giving him an NBA-best seven quarters this season with at least 20 points. He had 36 in the first half, the only player in the league with more than one 30-point halves this season.
His line: 51 points (19 of 28, 11 of 16 from 3-point distance), seven rebounds and two assists. He managed to finish plus-20 despite seven turnovers.
Green also finished plus-20 for the game.
TURNING POINT:
After Nene made one of two free throws to pull the Wizards to 87-84 with 3:52 left in the third quarter, the Warriors responded with a 10-0 run in only 73 seconds to go up 97-84 with 2:39 left in the quarter.
The Wizards got no closer than six in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors led by as much as 17 in the first half, but the Wizards opened the second half with a 17-5 run to cut it to two (79-77) with 8:24 left in the third quarter. Washington got no closer than six in the fourth quarter.
INJURY UPDATE:
Warriors: C Festus Ezeli (L knee soreness) and F James Michael McAdoo (L foot toe sprain) were listed as out and placed on the inactive list.
Wizards: F Alan Anderson (L ankle surgery) and F Kris Humphries (R knee soreness) were listed as out and placed on the inactive list.
WHAT’S NEXT:
The Warriors on Thursday visit President Obama at the White House before returning to Oakland, where on Saturday they play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first meeting this season between the teams.
