WASHINGTON — After trailing by 11 points heading into the fourth quarter, the Warriors had a late rally to pull within five, but it wasn’t enough.
Poor perimeter shooting plagued the Warriors in their 123-115 loss to the Wizards Sunday. Golden State went 8-for-33 from three. Meanwhile, the Wizards were hot from behind the arc as they connected on 16 of their 28 attempts.
The Wizards led by as many as 18 points in the second quarter, though the Warriors, led by Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins, managed a 12-2 rally late to pull Golden State within eight.
Golden State had another 10-2 run in the fourth quarter, but the Wizards ultimately proved to be too much.
Kristaps Porzingis, who scored 23 points, sank a pair of free throws to secure the win.
Thompson finished with 25 points, connecting on five of his 13 3-point attempts. Meanwhile, Poole, who seemed to be playing through a lower-right back injury, scored 26 points, extending his 20-point-or-more scoring streak to 21 games. He also had two assists and six rebounds.
Andrew Wiggins had 23 points and Otto Porter Jr. added 14 points and 11 rebounds coming off the bench against his former team.
Golden State had hoped that the return of Draymond Green from a back injury earlier this month would reinvigorate the team’s defense. But yet again, the Warriors, who have allowed their opponents to score 100 or more in eight of their last nine games, looked porous on that end.
Golden State (48-27) will wrap up their five-game road trip Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies, who hold a comfortable lead over Golden State for the second seed of the Western Conference.
Coach Steve Kerr said the team’s final seven games are “very important” as they’re “trying to catch a little momentum, get healthy and find a little groove before the start of the playoffs.”
