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Wizards pull ahead, then fall behind and fall to Warriors Wizards pull ahead, then fall behind and fall to Warriors
(about 1 hour later)
OAKLAND, Calif. — John Wall rumbled through the lane at Oracle Arena late Tuesday, dead set on getting to the basket and maybe impeding the seemingly irreversible surge of momentum the Golden State Warriors were riding and no other visiting team has been able to overcome in this building since last January. OAKLAND, Calif. — John Wall rumbled through the lane at Oracle Arena late Tuesday, determined to get to the basket and impede the seemingly irreversible surge of momentum the Golden State Warriors were riding and no other visiting team has been able to overcome in this building since January of 2015 before it was too late.
Wall ended up back-first on the hardwood, the result of a hard foul from Harrison Barnes, and went to the free throw line for the first time all night. It was the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ 102-94 victory, their NBA-record 54th straight at home, and the Wizards, confident they would shatter history just minutes earlier, were suddenly trailing by 16 points with just over six minutes remaining.Wall ended up back-first on the hardwood, the result of a hard foul from Harrison Barnes, and went to the free throw line for the first time all night. It was the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ 102-94 victory, their NBA-record 54th straight at home, and the Wizards, confident they would shatter history just minutes earlier, were suddenly trailing by 16 points with just over six minutes remaining.
Wall missed both free throws. Eight seconds later, his counterpart, Stephen Curry, applied the excruciating final blow — a three-pointer off the glass from a mile away – and just like that, as Oracle Arena’s boisterous 170th consecutive sellout roared, the Warriors had their biggest lead of the night and Wizards’ hopes of a stunning victory on national television vanished. Then Wall missed both free throws. Eight seconds later, his counterpart, Stephen Curry, applied the excruciating final blow — a step-back hoist off the glass from a mile away for his sixth and final three-pointer of the night — and just like that, as Golden State’s 170th consecutive sellout roared, the Warriors had their biggest lead of the night and the Wizards’ hopes of a stunning victory on national television were buried.
The Wizards (36-38) weren’t supposed to be in “must-win” mode against a team that hasn’t allowed a visiting club to leave the Bay Area victorious in 428 days and is on pace to set the all-time record for wins in a season. But letdowns throughout a disappointing season, marked by maddening inconsistency, have left Washington desperate for wins down the final stretch. The Wizards (36-38) weren’t officially eliminated from postseason contention with the defeat, but they’re headed in that direction, dropping to three games behind the Indiana Pacers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with eight contests remaining. The Warriors improved 36-0 at home and 67-7 overall to become the second franchise in NBA history with consecutive seasons with at least 67 wins. The only uncertainty remaining is whether they will eclipse the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ record of 72 wins. They can with a 6-2 finish to the campaign.
“We should expect to come in and win,” Wizards Coach Randy Wittman said before tip-off. “We should expect to go out and win every game. I want our guys believing in that. Good team, no question, but not unbeatable. So you got to have that belief that you’re going to play that type of game tonight that’s going to be good enough.” [Early Lead: The oddest of odd couples commemorated on a pin for charity]
For three quarters, the Wizards appeared good enough before stumbling in the fourth frame to fall three games behind the Indiana Pacers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with eight contests remaining. The Warriors improved 36-0 at home and 67-7 overall to become the second franchise in NBA history with consecutive seasons with at least 67 wins. They will eclipse the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ record of 72 wins with a 6-2 finish to the campaign. For three quarters, the Wizards appeared poised to become the first visiting club to leave the Bay Area victorious in 428 days. They led by nine points in the second frame and withstood a 12-0 storm to stay within two points late in the third. But Washington couldn’t keep pace in the fourth period as they suffered defensive breakdowns and scored just four points in the first 7 minutes 38 seconds to allow Golden State to pull away. The Wizards shot 42 percent from the field, 22 percent from three-point range, and committed 17 turnovers, which Golden State converted into 25 points.
Stephen Curry paced Golden State Warriors with 26 points – one more than he had in the first quarter in the teams’ first meeting in Washington February — and six three-pointers to go with seven rebounds and seven assists. The Wizards shot 41.9 percent from the field, 21.7 from three-point range, and committed 17 turnovers, which Golden State converted into 25 points. Bradley Beal led Washington with 17 points on 6 of 16 shooting, while Wall was held to eight points on 4 of 14 shooting and 11 assists. “We just had trouble putting the ball in the basket,” Wizards Coach Randy Wittman said.
For nearly 24 minutes, the Warriors did not resemble the jaw-dropping machine their rambunctious fan base has been spoiled witnessing in person over the previous 14 months. They were botching shots and carelessly tossing the basketball around. Curry, the unrivaled show’s orchestrator, was the most askew during the stretch. Curry paced Golden State with 26 points — one more than he had in the first quarter in the teams’ first meeting in Washington in February — to go with seven rebounds and seven assists. His back-court partner Klay Thompson added 16 points and made 2 of 8 three-pointers to his surpass Curry’s all-time record of 75 in the month of March.
The reigning and likely soon-to-be back-to-back league MVP hoisted bricks from three-point range that the world has become accustomed to him making. He missed an open finger-roll layup at point-blank range. He started the contest 3 of 11 from the field, drawing gasps from the crowd, a good fraction of which arrived at the arena early to watch his famed warm-up routine. It was remarkably unusual. [Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell reportedly shunned over Nick Young video]
Meanwhile, the Wizards, desperate to chase down the current, mediocre Chicago Bulls and a couple other clubs at the bottom of the Eastern Conference’s playoff field, pounced on the whiff of mortality. After staying within five points through the first quarter despite relying on a steady diet of quick mid-range jumpers, shooting 38 percent from the field, missing their only three-point attempt, and committing six turnovers, the Wizards started the second quarter on an 11-4 spurt to take a 33-31 lead as Curry watched from the bench. Washington’s back court was outmatched. Bradley Beal led Washington with 17 points on 6 of 16 shooting, while Wall was held to eight points on 4 of 14 shooting to go with 11 assists. The duo combined to score four points in the second half, while Marcin Gortat posted zero points and one rebound in eight second-half minutes after totaling nine points and nine rebounds in the first half.
A few minutes later, Wall, who had just re-entered the contest, drained a mid-range jumper to ignite a 9-0 run. Marcin Gortat topped off the spurt with a layup as he was fouled, which produced an enthusiastic, and awkward, chest bump with teammate J.J. Hickson. The Wizards were giddy. “I didn’t play well offensively,” Wall said, “and when we both don’t play well, it’s hard for us to get going.”
Gortat, however, missed the free throw and the Wizards went scoreless for the remainder of the half as the Warriors, the version the crowd had been nervously anticipating to surface, unleashed an avalanche. First, Draymond Green made a couple free throws, then Curry began an assault. For nearly 24 minutes, the Warriors did not resemble the jaw-dropping machine their rambunctious fan base has been spoiled by the past 14 months. They were botching shots and carelessly tossing the basketball around. Curry, the unrivaled show’s orchestrator, was the most askew during the stretch.
Capitalizing on the Wizards’ strategy of having defenders switch on every screen, from the point guard through the center, Curry found himself on an island with the slow-footed Jared Dudley twice and capitalized both times on his way to nine points in the final 1 minute, 42 seconds. As the Warriors climaxed, Washington coiled. The Wizards’ five possessions during Golden State’s blitz went turnover, missed jumper, missed jumper, missed jumper, and turnover before Curry converted a three-pointer to catapult the Warriors ahead 49-46 at the half. The reigning and likely to be back-to-back league MVP hoisted uncharacteristic bricks from three-point range. He missed an open finger-roll layup at point-blank range. He started the contest 3 of 11 from the field, drawing gasps from the crowd, a good fraction of which arrived at the arena early to watch his famed warm-up routine. It was remarkably unusual.
The Wizards held steady for much of the third quarter, absorbing blows that have knocked out previous visitors to counter with their own. Down eight early in the period, they responded with a 7-0 jab. Down 10 a few minutes later, the answer was an 8-0 run. But the Warriors kept at it and concluded the quarter with five straight points. The final three came in cruel fashion: Green nailing a long three-pointer to spoil Washington’s tidy defensive possession and amplify the margin to seven points entering the final frame. The Wizards never got any closer. Meanwhile, the Wizards, desperate to chase down the mediocre Chicago Bulls and a couple other clubs at the bottom of the Eastern Conference’s playoff field, pounced on the whiff of mortality. After staying within five points through the first quarter despite relying on a steady diet of mid-range jumpers, shooting 38 percent from the field while registering six turnovers, the Wizards started the second quarter on an 11-4 spurt to take a 33-31 lead as Curry watched from the bench.
A few minutes later, Wall drained a mid-range jumper to ignite a 9-0 run. Gortat topped off the spurt with a layup as he was fouled, which produced an enthusiastic, and awkward, chest bump with teammate J.J. Hickson. The Wizards were giddy.
Gortat, however, missed the free throw and the Wizards went scoreless for the remainder of the half as the Warriors, the version the crowd had been nervously expecting to surface, unleashed an avalanche. First, Draymond Green made a couple free throws, then Curry began an assault.
Capitalizing on the Wizards’ strategy of having defenders switch on every screen except any involving the center, Curry found himself on an island with the slow-footed Jared Dudley twice and capitalized both times on his way to nine points in the final 1:42 of the half.
As the Warriors surged, Washington recoiled. The Wizards’ five possessions during Golden State’s blitz went turnover, missed jumper, missed jumper, missed jumper, and turnover before Curry converted a three-pointer to catapult the Warriors ahead 49-46 at the half.
“Against a team like this, that’s fighting for history, 12-0 to end a half when you’re up nine, hurts,” Wittman said.
The Wizards held steady for much of the third quarter, absorbing blows that have knocked out previous visitors to counter with their own. Down eight early in the period, they responded with a 7-0 punch. Down 10 a few minutes later, the answer was an 8-0 run. But the Warriors kept at it and concluded the quarter with five straight points. The final three came in cruel fashion: Green nailing a long three-pointer to spoil Washington’s tidy defensive possession and amplify the margin to seven points entering the final frame. The Wizards never got any closer.
“You got to tip your hat,” Wizards Dudley said. “But I thought we played well enough to be able to win. But you can’t fall asleep those two, three minutes because they’re that good.”