(Photo: CSN Bay Area)
Regular Season Game 5
Wizards (3-1) at Warriors (3-2)
October 27, 2017 at 10:30 PM Oracle Arena | Oakland, CA TV: NBATV, NBCSN Radio: 1500 AM
What to Watch: Wizards Energy
Following a thrilling overtime loss Wednesday night in L.A., the Wizards are back in action on national television, kind of, once again. The Lakers game forced every starter to play at least 36 minutes. John Wall tallied 41 minutes, while his back court partner, Bradley Beal, racked up 44 minutes on the court. Add in the fact that the game ended at 1:18 A.M. here on the East Coast and Scott Brooks may run into issues with fatigue for this match up against the reigning world champions.
(Photo: Washington Wizards)
Key Matchup:
Top Backcourts Face Off
The NBA is filled with brilliant, entertaining backcourt duos, but when it comes to naming the best in the league, Wall and Beal as well as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are in that conversation ten times out of ten. Friday night will surely be a treat to watch as the guard’s battle for bragging rights. Look for Wall and Beal to play with a chip on their solider as they line up against the 'Splash Brothers'.
(Photo: Hoops Hype)
X-Factor:
The Bench
The Warriors are easily one of the deepest teams in the NBA. The Wizards, on the other hand, are still working on that. Having played such heavy minutes on Wednesday night against the Lakers, the Wizards are going to need their bench to be ready to take on some of the load off the starters plate. Jodie Meeks in particular looked pretty impressive scoring 11 points in just 16 minutes of play Wednesday night against the Lakers. On the contrary, Washington will need better than 2 of 10 shooting from Mike Scott. If the Wizards are going to have a chance at handing the Dubs their third loss of the season, they are going to need to find some scoring off the bench.
Fun Factor:
Reunion In The Bay
Although head coach Scott Brooks has technically coached against Kevin Durant last year, the latter only played 2 minutes against the Wizards last February before hyperextending his knee, which forced him to miss the rest of that game and the majority of the second showdown in early April.
Brooks joined the Thunder organization, the Seattle Supersonics at the time, as an assistant coach the same summer KD was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2007 NBA Draft.
(Photo: USA Today)
Prediction:
Despite having logged heavy minutes 48 hours ago in L.A., the Wizards bring their A-game to The Bay. Starters play well, the bench contribute some valuable minutes, but the Warriors at home prove too tough to beat. Golden State takes control late in the fourth quarter and improve to 4-2 on the season as Washington falls to 3-2.