Grading Warriors Players After 122-114 Victory Against Wizards: Curry Drops 26 Points Before Ankle Injury

The Warriors handled their business by defeating the Wizards 122-114 on Saturday night but it did not come without some concern for Stephen Curry.

Jan 18, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) brings the ball up court against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

Stephen Curry scored 26 points and helped lead the Golden State Warriors to a 122-114 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night before exiting late in the game with a left ankle injury. The Warriors leaned on Andrew Wiggins, who contributed 31 points and 11 rebounds, to secure the win at Chase Center.

Curry left the game with just over two minutes remaining after getting tangled with Jordan Poole under the basket. Despite some initial concern, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr shared that Curry didn’t believe the injury was serious, though his ankle was taped at his locker postgame.

Poole, playing in just his second game at Chase Center since being traded to Washington, had a spectacular performance with 38 points, including 8-for-15 shooting from beyond the arc. Poole also became the first player from the 2019 draft class to reach 900 career 3-pointers.

The Warriors trailed 60-53 at halftime, with Poole leading all scorers with 23 points at the break. However, Golden State rallied in the fourth quarter, breaking open a close game with an 11-2 run capped by a pair of Curry 3-pointers to take a double-digit lead with two and a half minutes left. A highlight moment came late in the game when Curry showcased his dribbling and shot-faking skills, draining a 3-pointer over Washington’s Bilal Coulibaly to put the Warriors up 115-105.

Draymond Green returned to the Warriors lineup after missing three games due to illness but exited in the first quarter with left calf tightness. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Sunday.

Despite Poole’s heroics, the Wizards, who have now dropped nine straight games, couldn’t overcome the Warriors’ strong finish. Golden State moved back above .500 with the win, continuing to find ways to compete even as injuries pile up. Let’s provide a grade for every Warriors player tonight.

Andrew Wiggins: A+

Stats: 31 PTS, 11 REB (2 OREB, 9 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 12-22 FG, 4-10 3PT, 3-6 FT, +1, 35 MIN

Wiggins led the Warriors with 31 points and 11 rebounds, showing his versatility on both ends. He shot an efficient 12-of-22 from the field and made key defensive plays, including 2 blocks and a steal. His scoring was consistent throughout, helping Golden State secure the win.

Stephen Curry: A-

Stats: 26 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 6 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 10-22 FG, 4-14 3PT, 2-2 FT, +7, 34 MIN

Curry scored 26 points with 6 assists and 5 rebounds. While he shot just 4-of-14 from beyond the arc, his timely 3-pointers in the fourth quarter were crucial in the Warriors’ late surge. His leadership on the court was evident before his unfortunate exit due to an ankle injury.

Dennis Schroder: B+

Stats: 20 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 7-14 FG, 2-4 3PT, 4-4 FT, +6, 32 MIN

Schroder added 20 points and 4 assists, providing a strong scoring punch and efficient shooting (7-of-14 FG). He was steady in facilitating the offense and hit 2 of his 4 attempts from deep while maintaining composure in critical moments.

Moses Moody: B

Stats: 13 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 4-7 FG, 2-5 3PT, 3-3 FT, +12, 29 MIN

Moody contributed 13 points with solid shooting (4-of-7 FG, 2-of-5 3PT). He played with energy on both ends, adding a block and a steal. His ability to knock down free throws (3-of-3) also helped maintain the Warriors’ lead.

Kevon Looney: B+

Stats: 10 PTS, 13 REB (5 OREB, 8 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PF, 4-8 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT, +13, 24 MIN

Looney dominated the boards with 13 rebounds, including 5 offensive boards, and scored 10 points. His interior presence on defense (2 blocks) and effort in securing second-chance opportunities were vital to the Warriors’ success.

Gary Payton II: B

Stats: 10 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 4-7 FG, 1-2 3PT, 1-1 FT, +11, 19 MIN

Payton scored 10 points in 19 minutes, shooting efficiently (4-of-7 FG). His defensive effort and hustle were valuable in keeping the Wizards’ guards in check.

Trayce Jackson-Davis: B-

Stats: 6 PTS, 15 REB (5 OREB, 10 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 3 PF, 2-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-4 FT, -5, 24 MIN

Jackson-Davis had a mixed performance with 6 points and an impressive 15 rebounds (5 offensive). While his effort on the glass was outstanding, his 2-of-5 shooting and 2 turnovers slightly diminished his impact.

Buddy Hield: C

Stats: 6 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 2-7 FG, 1-4 3PT, 1-2 FT, -12, 21 MIN

Hield struggled offensively, scoring just 6 points on 2-of-7 shooting, including 1-of-4 from three-point range. His contributions on the boards and playmaking were minimal, and his defensive impact was limited.

Lindy Waters III: C

Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +5, 11 MIN

Waters failed to score in his 11 minutes, missing both of his 3-point attempts. While he didn’t negatively impact the game (-/+ of +5), he provided little in terms of productivity.