Warriors vs Wizards Live Tonight: Tip-Off at 7 p.m. ET, Injury Crisis, and Two Teams on Long Losing Streaks
The Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards tip off tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. — a Monday night NBA matchup between two teams mired in losing streaks and desperate for a win. Golden State is looking to snap a five-game slide while Washington is sinking deeper into an 11-game skid.
Warriors vs Wizards Tip-Off Time, TV Channel, and How to Watch Live
Tip-off for the Warriors vs Wizards game is set for 7:00 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The game airs live locally on NBC Sports Bay Area and Monumental Sports Network. Out-of-market viewers can stream on NBA League Pass.
It is the second and final regular-season meeting between the two teams. The Warriors won the first matchup 144-122 earlier this season, making tonight's rematch at Capital One Arena the final opportunity for Washington to return the favor on their home floor.
Warriors vs Wizards Records: Two Teams Drowning in Losses
The Golden State Warriors enter tonight's game at 32-35, sitting ninth in the Western Conference standings. The Washington Wizards are 16-50, 14th in the Eastern Conference.
The Warriors are on the second leg of a back-to-back after falling to the Knicks on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, where they squandered a 21-point lead — their fifth consecutive defeat. Washington has lost 11 straight, with their most recent loss coming 111-100 to the Boston Celtics.
Warriors Injury Report Tonight: Stephen Curry, Draymond Green Both Out
Golden State is short-handed entering tonight's Warriors vs Wizards matchup. Stephen Curry is out with a knee injury, Jimmy Butler III is out for the season with a knee injury, Draymond Green is out with a back injury, Kristaps Porzingis is out due to illness, Moses Moody is out with a wrist injury, Seth Curry is out with an adductor injury, and Al Horford is out with a calf injury.
Since Curry went down with his knee injury on January 30, the Warriors have played 17 games and won only five. Currently only six players from the 15-man roster are fully active, giving coach Steve Kerr extremely limited options on the second night of a back-to-back.
Wizards Injury Report: Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis Both Sidelined
Washington is also without key players. Anthony Davis is out with a finger injury, Alex Sarr is out with a hamstring injury, Cam Whitmore is out for the season with a shoulder injury, Leaky Black is out with an ankle injury, Kyshawn George is out with an elbow injury, and D'Angelo Russell is out for non-injury reasons.
Washington's confirmed starting lineup for tonight is Trae Young, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Bilal Coulibaly, and Tristan Reese. The Wizards' bench surprised in their last outing, contributing 61 points against Boston, led by Tristan Vukcevic's 22-point performance off the bench.
Warriors Starting Lineup Tonight and Key Players to Watch
Golden State's projected starting lineup is Brandin Podziemski at point guard, De'Anthony Melton at shooting guard, Kristaps Porzingis at small forward, Gui Santos at power forward, and Draymond Green at center — though both Porzingis and Green are listed as questionable entering tip-off.
Podziemski has taken on a massive role in Curry's absence, recently dropping 25 points on efficient shooting. The Warriors lead the NBA in three-pointers made per game at 16.3 — a stat that keeps them dangerous regardless of who fills the lineup.
Warriors vs Wizards Prediction and Playoff Stakes for Golden State
The Warriors sit ninth in the Western Conference play-in standings, holding a slim 0.5-game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers for the final play-in spot. The LA Clippers have built a 2.5-game cushion for the eighth seed. Tonight's Warriors vs Wizards game is effectively a must-win for Golden State to stay in postseason contention.
Analysts are predicting a Warriors win despite the injury chaos, with a projected final score of 124-109 in Golden State's favor. Golden State has won each of the last six meetings against Washington, a streak that reflects the talent gap that still exists between the two rosters despite the Warriors' recent struggles.
