Extended losing streaks collide in the nation’s capital Monday night as the Washington Wizards host the Golden State Warriors at Capital One Arena.
The Warriors (32–35, 9th West) head into D.C. on the second night of a back-to-back, coming off their fifth consecutive loss at the hands of the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The Wizards (16–50, 14th East) are mired in a brutal 11-game tailspin, punctuated by Saturday’s loss to the Celtics in Boston.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Golden State Warriors
- OUT: Stephen Curry (Knee), Jimmy Butler (ACL) Seth Curry (Adductor), Moses Moody (Wrist), Al Horford (Soleus), Quinten Post (Foot), LJ Cryer (Hamstring)
Washington Wizards
- OUT: Alex Sarr (Hamstring), Kyshawn George (Elbow), Leaky Black (Ankle), Cam Whitmore (Shoulder), Anthony Davis (Finger), D’Angelo Russell (Not With Team)
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. Golden State enters as a 7.5-point road favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Washington sits as a +250 underdog. The game’s total is set at 232.5 points.
Warriors vs. Wizards Preview
Golden State Warriors Preview
Golden State got bit by the injury bug at the worst possible time. The Warriors, enmeshed in a heated Western Conference play-in race, have lost a season-high five straight games as Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and others lie dormant on the sidelines. They nearly snapped their skid Sunday night in Manhattan before the Knicks swiftly erased a 21-point deficit against the makeshift lineup.
After resting in New York, key starters Kristaps Porzingis and De’Anthony Melton are off the injury report, and Draymond Green is listed as questionable to rejoin the Dubs in D.C. Still, the franchise has floundered without its star player, just 5–12 since Curry hit the sidelines with a knee injury. Golden State sits 23rd in net rating during that span — still doing most of its damage from the perimeter but ranking 28th in three-point percentage at a paltry 33.6% clip.
Washington Wizards Preview
The post-deadline Wizards make for some brutal hoops. After sending top-scorer CJ McCollum to Atlanta, Washington has gone just 2–14 — second-worst in the NBA — while ranking dead last in defensive and net rating. The team returns to its home court on Monday on a disastrous, yet not a season-worst, 11-game losing streak.
While Trae Young has finally joined the group after returning from an MCL sprain, the Wizards are still 0–4 as the star point guard continues his ramp-up. Compounding their struggles, burgeoning forward Kyshawn George has been sidelined since March 2 with an elbow injury, and leading scorer Alex Sarr will join him on the sidelines Monday night to nurse a hamstring injury.
Warriors vs. Wizards Pick, Best Bet
The return of Kristaps Porzingis, De’Anthony Melton, and potentially Draymond Green should provide the Warriors with just enough firepower to roll over the woeful Wizards, whose current offensive engine is a minutes-restricted Trae Young amid a career-worst scoring season. Expect the Dubs to get back in the W column in spread-covering fashion.
