Warriors-Wizards Preview

By JEFF BARTL
Posted Dec 08 2012 12:01AM

Stephen Curry and David Lee have made sure the Golden State Warriors' season-high seven-game road trip is off to a solid start.

They don't appear to be slowing down, either.

Golden State looks to pick up its third straight win on this road swing as it visits the NBA-worst Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

The Warriors (12-7) got off to a disappointing 3-4 start but they've won nine of 12 since, including the first two of their journey comprised exclusively of Eastern Conference opponents.

Curry scored 22 points and added 10 assists while Lee finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 104-97 win over Detroit on Wednesday to start the trip. They shined again in Friday's 109-102 victory at Brooklyn, as Curry netted 28 points with Lee scoring 30 and adding 15 boards.

Though Curry's four-game streak of 20-point, 10-assist games ended against the Nets, he's averaging 22.5 points and 8.8 assists as Golden State has won five of six.

"He's a bad man," coach Mark Jackson said. "At the end of the day, he's healthy, and I'll take him matching up against any point guard in this league. And that's with total respect for ... other guys in this league, but Steph Curry is in that class and he shoots the ball as well as anybody that's ever played.

"For the first time in a long time he's healthy, and I think people forgot just how good he is."

Lee is averaging 22.2 points and 10.7 rebounds over the last six games, shooting 59.3 percent.

"We take a lot of pride in going on the road and finding a way to get wins," Lee said, "We were very, very happy we did that."

Lee has been solid in his last 10 games against the Wizards, averaging 21.9 points with 12.4 rebounds. He'll look to help guide the Warriors to a fourth straight win over Washington, which has split its last four games after opening 0-12.

The Wizards (2-14) shocked defending champion Miami 105-101 at home Tuesday, but they couldn't carry over that momentum Friday in a 104-95 loss at Atlanta.

Kevin Seraphin came off the bench but played a team-high of 32 minutes, leading Washington with 19 points on 9 of 16 shooting. He finished with seven rebounds after having a double-double in each of his previous three games.

"We had the time. We had the chance," Seraphin said. "We should have executed more."

Washington was outrebounded 47-32 and gave up 22 second-chance points.

"We didn't trust again," coach Randy Wittman. "We quit running and moving the ball, started holding and dribbling and didn't trust what we were doing."

Rookie Bradley Beal was the only starter in double figures with 18 points.

"We got back to the old Wizards instead of the team that we know we can be," Beal said.

Curry played less than 10 minutes because of a foot injury but scored 12 points while Lee added 13 and 10 rebounds in 120-100 road victory over the Wizards in the most recent matchup March 5.

These teams have split the last 12 meetings in Washington.

Lee's 24 points lead Warriors to 101-97 win

Posted Dec 08 2012 11:17PM

WASHINGTON (AP) One night after an emotional homecoming for their coach, the Golden State Warriors used all their physical reserve to pull out a third straight win on the road.

David Lee had 24 points and 17 rebounds, Klay Thompson added 23 points and the Warriors beat the Washington Wizards 101-97 on Saturday night. Golden State has won the first three games of a road trip for the first time since February, 2003.

"Physically playing in this league is draining. Fatigue sets in and the good teams have a way of telling their bodies: `hold off until later. We've got to find a way to get a win,"' Warriors coach Mark Jackson said.

Golden State led for nearly all the game, but the pesky Wizards kept challenging.

Stephen Curry scored 22 points for Golden State, which has four more games on its longest road trip of the season. The Warriors are 13-7 overall, the first time they've been six games over .500 since the end of the 2007-08 season.

That doesn't matter to Jackson, in his second season with Golden State. He claimed not to take any special joy in winning in Brooklyn just a few blocks from where he played high school ball. Jackson is trying to change the culture of a team that's won more than it lost just twice in the last 18 seasons.

"I understand the fans and the organization and the history of this team, but that's not my history, so this team - our history is last year and this year," Jackson said.

Washington (2-15) was led by Jordan Crawford, who had 22 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, tying a season high for points and assists. Bradley Beal scored 17 points, Kevin Seraphin and Cartier Martin both had 14. All of Martin's points came in the second quarter. Martin did not attempt a shot in the second half.

The Wizards lost their first 12 this season, then won two of three, including an improbable victory over Miami on Tuesday before a flat performance at Atlanta on Friday.

Washington sustained another injury to a point guard. Playing all this season without John Wall because of a left knee injury, backup A.J. Price fractured his right hand four minutes into the game and will be lost four to six weeks.

"I knew I hurt myself right away, but I was going to try and play through it, came down I think the next possession and tried to throw the crosscourt pass and really couldn't get anything behind it," Price said.

"I figured if I can't pass, then I'm just going to hurt my team."

The Wizards have none of the four point guards they began training camp with. Wall, who was originally supposed to be back in late November, has yet to practice. Two others, Jannero Pargo and Shelvin Mack, were cut.

Unless Washington makes a roster move, Crawford and Shaun Livingston are the only point guards around.

The biggest concern for the Wizards was rebounding. Golden State had a huge 57-37 advantage.

"I think really the big difference obviously tonight being we got just hammered on the boards," coach Randy Wittman said.

The Wizards pulled into an 84-all tie when Chris Singleton hit one of two free throws with 4 minutes to play, but Golden State outscored Washington 9-1 on five points by Thompson, a jumper by Jarrett Jack and a layup by Lee to take a 93-85 lead with 2:19 to play.

Beal hit a 3-pointer with 8.2 seconds left to allow Washington to pull within 97-96. Curry hit two free throws, and Beal was fouled with 4.2 seconds to play. He hit the first, deliberately missed the second, Nene tipped the ball to Beal, whose shot missed badly. Carl Landry hit two free throws with 2 seconds left to seal it.

"We have one agenda - to win and make a deep run in the playoffs," Thompson said. "Last year we talked about playing defense. This year, we're actually out there doing it."

The Warriors, winners of 10 of their last 12, are now 6-1 against the East.

NOTES: Wizards F Trevor Ariza missed his second straight game with a strained left calf. F Trevor Booker his seventh straight with a right knee injury. When asked before the game if there was an update on Trevor, Wittman joked: Which one?" ... Golden State F Richard Jefferson, who missed his 10th straight game with a strained right calf, says he's nearing a return. ... Warriors rookie F Draymond Green fouled out with 16.1 seconds to play. It was Golden State's second disqualification of the season. ... Thompson tied his career high with five 3-pointers..

Notebook: Warriors 101, Wizards 97

Rich Dubroff, for NBA.com
Posted Sat Dec 08, 2012 11:41 PM - Updated Sat Dec 08, 2012 11:41 PM

THE FACTS: David Lee scored 24 points and 17 rebounds, Klay Thompson had 23 and Stephen Curry added 22 to lead the Golden State Warriors to their third straight win on the road, and their 10th of 12, 101-97 over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

Golden State hadn't won the first three games of a road trip since Feb. 2003. The Warriors led for most of the game, but didn't take the lead for good until Thompson hit two free throws with 3:57 to play.

Washington is now just 2-15. The Wizards were led by Jordan Crawford, who nearly had a triple-double with 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Bradley Beal had 17 points.

QUOTABLE: "Our whole focus is to rebound the ball and let the scoring take care of itself."
-- Lee on Golden State's improvement in rebounding.

THE STAT: The Warriors outrebounded the Wizards 57-37. "I think really the big difference obviously tonight being we got just hammered on the boards," Washington coach Randy Wittman said.

TURNING POINT: The Warriors went on a 9-1 run to take a 93-85 lead with 2:19 to play.

QUOTABLE II: "Physically playing in this league is draining. Fatigue sets in and the good teams have a way of telling their bodies: 'Hold off until later. We've got to find a win to get a win."
-- Golden State coach Mark Jackson on the team's fighting off exhaustion.

HOT: Washington guard Cartier Martin was 5-for-6 in the first half. He had 14 points, but didn't attempt in 11 second-half minutes.

NOT: Beal was 6-for-17 from the field, missing five of six from 3-point range.

GOOD MOVE: Jackson had forward Carl Landry in the game at the end. He hit four key free throws down the stretch.

BAD MOVE: Washington guard A.J. Price breaking his right hand four minutes into the game. He thinks he'll be out four-to-six weeks. "I knew I hurt myself right away but I was going to try and play through it, came down, I think the next possession and tried to throw the crosscourt pass and really couldn't get anything behind it. I figured if I can't pass, then I'm just going to hurt my team," Price said.

NOTABLE: Washington is without the four point guards it brought to training camp. John Wall hasn't played this season with a left knee injury, Price is out and Jannero Pargo and Shelvin Mack have been cut. They'll make do with Crawford and Shaun Livingston.

IN THE ARENA: Jan Vesely continues to be a highly-paid spectactor. For the third straight game, last season's first-round draft choice, did not play. Five games ago, he played for just one second.

UP NEXT: For the Warriors: Monday @ Bobcats, Wednesday @ Heat, Friday @ Magic. For the Wizards: Tuesday @ Hornets, Wednesday @ Rockets, Friday vs. Lakers

• Warriors: Bogut, Rush
• Wizards: Booker, Wall

• Warriors: --
• Wizards: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #49 Tom Washington, #61 Courtney Kirkland, #74 Curtis Blair
• Attendance: 15176
• Duration: 2:17