Kristaps Porzingis scored 30 points and De'Anthony Melton added 27 to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 125–117 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night, snapping a five-game losing streak and delivering head coach Steve Kerr his 600th career victory.
Playing without Stephen Curry (knee) and Jimmy Butler (ACL), along with Seth Curry and Al Horford, Golden State leaned on its available stars in the second game of a back-to-back. Porzingis, Melton and Draymond Green all returned after sitting out Sunday’s loss in New York and helped stabilize the lineup.
The Warriors built momentum early, opening up a 17-point lead in the second quarter before Washington responded to cut the deficit to 64–57 at halftime. Golden State regained control in the fourth, stretching the lead to 15 before withstanding one final push from the Wizards, who got no closer than five points down the stretch.
Trae Young led Washington with 21 points in limited minutes, but the Wizards’ struggles continued as they dropped their 12th straight game. Bub Carrington was ejected midway through the third quarter after picking up his second technical foul.
One sequence in the first quarter summed up the game’s chaotic feel, as Golden State’s Pat Spencer and Washington’s Jamir Watkins traded errant no-look passes that resulted in the ball going right back to where it started.
With the win, Golden State strengthened its position in the Western Conference play-in race, while Washington’s skid continued despite avoiding the bottom spot in the East.
Up next: The Golden State Warriors visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, while the Washington Wizards host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.
