The day before the game against the Grizzlies in Memphis, the Warriors lost again to an underdog, this time ending 123-115 against the Washington Wizards, who had lost eight of their last ten games.
Coming into the competition, the Wizards ranked 25th in defensive rating (114.0), 18th in opponent’s points per game (111.4), and 22nd in points per game ( 108.1). Right off the bat, the game wasn’t going by numbers. With the Warriors’ offense stagnating, the Wizards (32-42) couldn’t miss and much of the loss followed that trend. The Warriors struggled throughout the game, especially in the fourth quarter, but just missed too many shots and made far too many defensive errors.
The Warriors are 23-1 if they finish with 30 assists. They had just seven at halftime, and in the loss they had 20 to the Wizards’ 33.
Jordan Poole extended his streak of at least 20 points – ending with a game high of 26 – but made only one of his 10 3-point attempts. Klay Thompson scored 25 points while scoring five 3-pointers, and Andrew Wiggins’ 23 points were his highest since January 29.
Draymond Green found spark after tangling with Kristaps Porzingis on more than one occasion, although he remained far from the player he was before his back injury and was down 20.
Here are three takeaways from another tough loss that dropped the Warriors to 48-27 in the season. Golden State remains third in the Western Conference, four games behind the Grizzlies and two and a half games ahead of the Utah Jazz.
Kispert catches fire
If a prospect is considered a sniper, they are automatically connected to the Warriors. That’s how it’s been for the past few years, and that’s exactly what happened when Corey Kispert and Golden State’s second-round pick went into the draft last year. Kispert eventually went to the Wizards a pick later after Moses Moody left for the Warriors.
On Sunday, Kispert showed why many thought his next home might be the Bay Area.
As the Wizards continued to extend their lead in the second quarter, to 18 points at one point, Kispert kept hitting the bottom of the nets. He didn’t make a single 3-pointer when the Warriors defeated the Wizards at Chase Center two weeks ago. This time he made six out of nine attempts.
Kispert posted a career-high 25 points against the Warriors while shooting 9-for-12 from the field and was up 16.
History of 3 point results
Call it home field advantage, say what you will, but here’s the truth: The Warriors couldn’t buy a 3-pointer and the Wizards must have all of their marks on the calendar for that date. They went to day shooting 33 percent from 3-point range. They were just a little bit better against the Warriors.
Led by Kispert’s six Treys, the Wizards made 16 3-pointers. The Warriors only made eight. Washington shot 57.1 percent from deep, Golden State managed just 24.2 percent on 33 attempts. Without Steph Curry, things will be more difficult and the 3-point line narrower, but the Warriors need to get better here.
When they get that cold shooting from 3-point range, they need to find other ways to make offense click.
Free silver lining
As bad as the Warriors were from deep, they continued to the free throw line and they have to be happy with the results.
The Warriors made 31 free throws to the Wizards’ 19 and Golden State shot 79.5 percent of the charity stripe as a team. Poole made nine free throws, Wiggins made seven, but Thompson didn’t attempt even one.
The free throw line may have to be a warrior’s best friend when they’re fighting this far forward on their 3-point attempts.