(Photo: NBA)
The Washington Wizards came very close to pulling off a huge win over the defending NBA champions but ultimately came up short, 120-117. The Wizards had as much as an 18-point lead but the Golden State Warriors showed why they are the team to beat in the league with a fourth quarter comeback. The Warriors began that final frame on a 15-4 run to take their first lead of the game since it was 9-8 early in the first quarter. Washington regained the lead briefly but Kevin Durant hit a three-pointer and Golden State never looked back despite a late rally by the visitors that came up short.
Here are five takeaways from this game.
Wizards Start Hot, Warriors Finish Hot
The Wizards shot 44.3% from the field in the game, but the shooting was much better in the first half, especially in the opening 12 minutes. In that first quarter, the Wizards shot 54% including five-of-nine from three. The two stars of the show were Kelly Oubre Jr. and Otto Porter Jr. (more on that later).
With the great offense the Wizards provided in the first half, they also played better defense in the first 24 minutes. They held the Warriors to just 3 three-pointers in the first half but in the second half, they woke up. Golden State hit seven of 18 from deep in the second half and that jump started their rally.
In all, the Wizards were still the better team from three with a 45.5 percent night compared to the Warriors 26.3 percent. It was Washington's best game behind the arc this season as they failed to even eclipse the 40 percent mark in the first four games of the season so that will be one thing they can build on.
K3lly Oubr3 Jr.
Oubre had his best game of the season, scoring a career-high tying 19 points. 14 of those came in the first half, including four three-pointers, a career-high. At the beginning of the week, the Wizards made the no-brainer decision to pick up the fourth year option of his rookie contract and he has shown so far that he's worth the investment. Oubre is a blue collar type of player that is not afraid to both make an impact or stick up for his teammates. He earned an opportunity in the starting lineup with Markieff Morris' injury and has made the most of it so far in this young season.
World Star!
One moment in the game that everyone will be talking about this weekend was the fight that broke out between Bradley Beal and Draymond Green. With 20 seconds to go in the first half, Green blocked Beal on his drive to the hoop. After Oubre got the rebound and missed a three, this happened:
Both players got ejected and as Beal exited the court and headed to the tunnel a Warriors fans heckled him and one was yelling some choice words at him that caught his attention. Beal handled it in a professional manner, laughing it off. Funny thing is, NBCS Bay Area called it a "verbal altercation."
Both players could face a suspension, as could other teammates as there is a rule where you cannot leave the bench in an altercation. Why is there such a rule? I still cannot figure it out.
Later on, Green played the victim card in a statement to ESPN.
Otto Porter Jr. Continues To Prove He Is Worth The Money
Porter led the Wizards with 29 points. After he signed his max contract in July, he is showing the Wizards he was worth every penny. Like Oubre, he had a career-high in three-pointers with seven.
#SoWizards...
For the second game in a row, the Wizards faltered in the fourth quarter to the point where that dreadful hashtag was used. The Warriors outscored the Wizards 67-50 in the second half and had a 54-29 run in 17 minutes. An 18-point lead was trimmed to a 10-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter and against a team like the Warriors, that's a recipe for disaster.
Next Game: The Wizards look to turn things around on Sunday evening in Sacramento at 6 p.m. to finish their first of two West Coast trips.