Kevin Durant returns to familiar surroundings Wednesday when the Warriors face the Wizards at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C.
Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 4 o'clock, with tipoff scheduled for 5:05.
Durant would like to erase the memories of exactly one year ago, when the native of nearby Seat Pleasant, Md. visited D.C. with the Warriors and lasted only 93 seconds before sustaining an MCL sprain that forced him to miss five weeks.
The Warriors (47-14) have won three straight since the All-Star break.
The Wizards (36-25) are 3-1 since the break and are 10-3 since star guard John Wall left the lineup with a knee injury.
BETTING LINE
Warriors by 9
Sports
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Klay Thompson vs. Bradley Beal: Thompson's two-way excellence was on display the last two games, with superb defense in a win over the Thunder before cooking the Knicks for 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting in New York. Beal can't defend at Thompson's level but he's averaging a team-high 23.7 ppg to Thompson's 20.0. Beal will have to generate offense, and that should be a tall task against Thompson.
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: G Pat McCaw (L wrist fracture) is listed as out.
Wizards: G John Wall (L knee surgery) is listed as out.
LAST 10
Warriors: 7-3.
Wizards: 7-3.
GAME OFFICIALS
Marc Davis (crew chief), Brian Forte, Leon Wood
SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors won the first meeting this season, 120-117, on Oct. 27 at Oracle Arena. The teams split a pair of games last season, each winning on its home court. The Warriors are 6-1 against Washington in the Steve Kerr era.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
PASSING FRENZY: After leading the NBA in assists the last three seasons, the Warriors are known for their ball movement. The Wizards are not -- until Wall went down. In the 13 games since he left the lineup, they've averaged 30.2 assists, tying the Warriors for tops in the league during that span.
THE BENCHES: The Warriors should have an advantage here, as their reserves are tops in offensive rating (111.5) and second in net rating (8.5). Wall's absence clearly has affected Washington's depth, and it's evident mostly on defense, where its rating has fallen to 23rd in the league.
FATIGUE FACTOR: While the Warriors took the day off on Tuesday, Washington was facing the Bucks in Milwaukee. Moreover, the game was tight throughout the fourth quarter, forcing the Wizards to keep their starters in the game down the stretch. Can the Warriors take advantage?
