The Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul (3) is defended by the Washington Wizards guard Jared Butler (center) and forward Marvin Bagley III in the first half at the Capital One Center in Washington DC on Tue Feb 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors beat the Washington Wizards 123-112 at the Capital One Center in Washington DC to start a four-game road trip. The Warriors have now won 11 of the last 14 games played. Warriors head coach, Steve Kerr, changed his lineup.

Andrew Wiggins had the night off. Kerr inserted Moses Moody into the starting lineup. The Warriors welcomed back point guard Chris Paul. Paul broke his left hand on January 5th in a game against the Detroit Pistons.

The Warriors were favored to beat the Wizards as Washington is having a dismal season. The Wizards traded for Jordan Poole. Poole was removed from the starting lineup as he was not performing the way he did when he was with the Warriors. But, as the fans know, anything can happen in a basketball game. The Warriors had to be careful not to let the Wizards pull off the upset. The Wizards played well in the first half and trailed by two 60-58 at halftime.

In the first quarter, the Wizards got off to a good start. At one point in that quarter, the Wizards led by nine, 25-16. The Warriors Klay Thompson made a couple of buckets to get the Warriors closer to the lead. Washington finished the quarter leading 25-23.

The Warriors outscored the Wizards 37-33 in the second quarter. Moses Moody connected on two three-pointers to help the Warriors get their offense going. Jonathan Kuminga and Gary Payton II also played well during this period. The Warriors finished the half leading by two, 60-58. There was one amazing stat that was hard to believe. Stephen Curry did not score a single point in the first half.

The Warriors won the third quarter 38-17. Curry found his shot. Curry and Klay each made a couple of threes to lead the Warriors to a 23-point lead, 98-75, at the end of the period. The Wizards, to their credit, fought back in the final stanza. The Warriors have blown several big leads in the fourth quarter this year. The Wizards won the quarter 37-25. The 23-point deficit was too much to overcome. Washington closed the gap to ten, 120-110, but time ran out, and the Warriors won 123-112.

Game Notes: The Warriors improved to 30-27 with the win. The Wizards lost their 12th in a row and are 9-49. Thompson paced the Warrior attack with 25 points. Thompson made six threes in nine tries. Stephen Curry, scoreless in the first half, knocked down eighteen in the second.

Curry connected three times from downtown. Moses Moody finished with 12, Brandin Podzienski had seven points, four rebounds, and four assists. Kuminga had a big night with 21 points, six boards, and five assists.

Payton II tallied 13 points, and Chris Paul added nine points and six assists. The Warriors shot 50% from the floor and, as a team, knocked down 21 threes. They had 39 assists on 47 made field goals. The Warriors outrebounded the Wizards 54-45. 

The Wizards had six players in double figures. Kyle Kuzma led Washington with 27. Marvin Bagley III had 20 points and nine rebounds. Corey Kispert had 20, Landry Shamet had 16, and Tyus Jones had 14. Former Warriors Jordan Poole scored 12, coming off the bench.

The Warriors bench outscored the Wizards bench 59-15. That was the difference in the game.

The Warriors travel to New York City to play the Knicks at Madison Square Garden Thursday night. The game will start at 4 pm.