SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors knew it was only a matter of time before Andrew Wiggins would have a big game.
It finally came Monday when Golden State beat the Wizards 135-126.
Though he was listed as questionable with an ankle sprain entering the evening, Wiggins played one of his best games since missing a month of action due to a strained thigh muscle and subsequent illness. His 29 points were the most he’s tallied in the 14 games he’s played since his return.
With Stephen Curry out for the foreseeable future with a leg injury, and the team’s depth hit hard by other injuries, the Warriors will need more nights like Monday from Wiggins, who hadn’t been the same two-way threat he was earlier this season since his 15-game layoff.
Along with Wiggins’ solid showing, JaMychal Green and Donte DiVincenzo remain steady forces off the bench and Klay Thompson continues to do his thing.
The Warriors held a 13-point advantage Monday night heading into the fourth quarter. But no lead feels safe for Golden State this season.
The Wizards responded, making it a six-point game with a minute remaining, but DiVincenzo hit a dagger 3 with 34 seconds left to put the game away for good. DiVincenzo finished with 17 points, including six in the fourth, on 6 of 9 shooting (3 of 6 from deep).
The Wizards punched first, pulling ahead by 10 points at the end of the first quarter. But Golden State battled back. An explosive third quarter helped the Warriors put the game away. Wiggins and Green played a big part in that out-of-the-half jolt.
The two combined for 23 of the Warriors’ 35 points in the third quarter, helping Golden State pull ahead 106-93 entering the fourth and they held off the Wizards' rally attempt.
Thompson finished the night with 27 points, five assists and four rebounds.
Draymond Green picked up his 15th technical foul of the season in the first quarter for arguing with an official. That makes him one away from a fine and one-game suspension.
The Warriors will play the Clippers in Los Angeles on Tuesday for the second night of a back-to-back. That means it’s likely Thompson will sit.
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