Wizards Young Core Shows Growth in Loss to Warriors

Photo Creds: Jamece “Mecie” Hall

The Golden State Warriors snapped a five-game losing streak with a 125-117 win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday night at Capital One Arena, extending Washington’s drought to 12 games despite a standout performance from rookie Will Riley. 

Both teams entered the game seeking a reset after recent struggles. Golden State, coming off a narrow defeat to the New York Knicks, looked to rebound. Meanwhile, Washington hoped to snap an 11-game losing streak. 

Washington’s starting lineup featured Trae Young, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Bilal Coulibaly, and Juju Reese returning to the starting five. The Wizards were without Alex Sarr (hamstring), Cam Whitmore (out for the season), and Kyshawn George (partial UCL tear). Additionally, Anthony Davis has not yet debuted as he remains unavailable due to a finger injury.

Golden State entered the game with a laundry list of injuries, including key players: Jimmy Butler III, Seth Curry, Steph Curry, Al Horford, and Moses Moody, all of whom were sidelined due to various injuries.

Washington struck first when Riley scored the opening basket, but Golden State responded quickly when Draymond Green answered with a three-pointer. Early in the quarter, tensions rose when Juju Reese and Draymond Green exchanged words after an elbow during a drive in the paint. Reese picked up three fouls in the first quarter.

Golden State entered the night leading the league in three-point attempts and makes, while Washington focused on defensive pressure to keep the pace. By halftime, the Wizards had limited the Warriors to five three-pointers.

At halftime, Golden State held a 64-57 lead. The Warriors recorded 20 assists, 23 rebounds, and 7 turnovers. Washington finished the half with 11 assists, 18 rebounds, and 8 turnovers. 

The game shifted in the third quarter when Trae Young left with a quad contusion. Shortly after Young exited, Washington lost another key player when Bub Carrington was ejected with five minutes remaining in the quarter. This was a big upset for the Wizards. Carrington holds the record for most threes as a rookie for Washington, with teammate Tre Johnson just 21 behind him.

Despite the loss, Washington saw a strong performance from Will Riley, who finished with 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. Former Wizards player Kristaps Porzingis led all scorers with 30 points and three blocks for Golden State.

Photo Creds: Jamece “Mecie” Hall

The Win

The victory also marked a milestone for Golden State head coach Steve Kerr, who recorded his 600th career victory with the Warriors.

After the game, Wizards head coach Brian Keefe spoke about Riley’s development, saying, “He’s been in the rotation here for a while, even going back into January, when we made the trade initially, he’s just growing. We’re putting the ball in his hands to grow, and it’s situations like, we’re having him play point because of his playmaking, he’s such a big guard, big wing. And then his shooting has progressed too. So, we’ve seen a little bit of everything from him, but it’s really some good growth to finish out the year.” Despite the loss, performances like Riley’s offer a glimpse into a promising future for Washington’s rebuild. 

While the loss extended Washington’s losing streak, rookie performances highlighted the continued development of the Wizards’ young core. 

Written By: Emily Giecek