Oakland, CA – Stephen Curry netted a game-high 35 points on 13-of-18 shooting from the floor despite missing the final half of the fourth quarter due to an apparent ankle injury, as Golden State downed Washington, 101-92, for its fifth straight win in the series.
Curry, who also shot 6-of-10 from behind the arc and had eight helpers, went down with 6:03 to play in the final frame, as he drove to the hoop and rolled his ankle. He walked off the court limping and did not return.
"I'm fine," Curry said. "Don't worry about my ankle. It's just another episode. I'll get through it like I always do."
Klay Thompson had 18 points and Harrison Barnes supplied 16 to go along with eight rebounds for the Warriors, who have won three of four games overall and five of the last six at home versus Washington. David Lee donated 11 points and had a game-high 15 boards in the victory.
Cartier Martin had a career-high 23 points and six 3-pointers for the Wizards, who had won consecutive road tilts and five of their last six overall prior to the contest. John Wall was ejected in the third quarter after receiving his second technical foul, and finished with 14 points in defeat.
After Washington trailed by 18 points to start the second half, the Wizards cut the deficit to 69-57 after two Wall free throws with 6:52 to play in the third quarter. However, things quickly got worse for the visitors.
Wall, who was coming of an impressive performance in a win versus the Lakers on Friday with 24 points and a career-high 16 assists, then picked up his second technical foul of the contest 12 seconds later, as he continued to argue with Thompson after a foul call. The referees gave a double-technical, though Wall was ejected as a result and his team quickly suffered.
"It's a lesson," Wizards head coach Randy Wittman said. "When you get an early technical, you can't get into anything talking on the floor."
The absence was immediately felt and Golden State closed the stanza on a 13-7 run to make it a 82-64 margin to head into the fourth.
Even after creating some distance to potentially close out the game, Washington still had some fight left, as the it closed the gap to 88-80 with 6:42 to play. Barnes, though, capped off an important 7-1 swing with a monster slam that made it 95-81 with five-plus minutes remaining.
During the run, though, Golden State was dealt a blow as Curry turned his ankle as he was driving to the hoop. He left the game on his own power, but clearly in a lot of pain.
"You got to be smart at this point in the season," Added Curry. "You can't try to fight through something if it's not ready because we have a big section of the season coming up."
Golden State opened up the contest with the first eight points and led comfortably after one quarter 29-17. Jarrett Temple closed the Wizards' deficit to eight points in the second quarter, but the Warriors closed the first half on a 19-9 flurry to take a 58-40 lead into the break.
Game Notes
Golden State is 23-10 at home this season ... Washington is a mere 7-27 on the road ... Curry has 16 games this season with five or more 3-pointers ... It was Washington's first visit to Oakland since a 114-104 loss March 27, 2011 ... Eight of Golden State's final 11 contests are at home ... Washington is 20-16 with Wall and 5-29 without him this season ... Washington was without Trevor Ariza due to the flu and Bradley Beal due to an ankle injury.