Porziņģis and Santos hold off Wizards in a wild 131-126 finish

The Warriors looked like they might cruise when they ripped off a 10-0 start and opened a 16-point lead, but Washington never let this one settle. Instead, the game turns into a track meet, then a tug-of-war, then a late-night scramble in the final four minutes. Golden State still finishes with the 131-126 win, yet the way they had to survive it says plenty about how slippery this matchup became.

The opening burst sets the tone. Golden State comes out throwing punches, and the early run from 5-4 to 15-4 is powered by movement and pace, capped by W. Richard’s cutting layup off Draymond Green’s fourth assist. The Warriors keep stacking possessions from there, pushing the game to 38 points in the first quarter and to 72 by halftime. Draymond isn’t scoring, but he’s orchestrating everything, eventually finishing with 10 assists, and the Warriors’ offense looks comfortable as long as the ball keeps moving.

Washington’s response starts in the third, and that’s the turning point that keeps this from being a clean Golden State control job. Down 76-65, the Wizards catch fire in a 11-point run that knots the game at 76-76, with B. Carrington’s three ending the surge. Suddenly the pace is tilted, the Warriors are chasing, and Washington is getting enough shot-making from everywhere to turn a comfortable lead into a one-possession fight. The Wizards even grab the advantage late in the third, entering the fourth with real life after outscoring Golden State in the period.

That’s when Kristaps Porziņģis takes over the closing stretch. He scores on a 12-foot turnaround jumper at 4:36, then comes right back with a tip dunk at 3:14 that pushes the margin to 119-113 and forces Washington to keep answering. Porziņģis finishes with 28 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 29 minutes, drilling five threes and repeatedly punishing the Wizards in the paint and in the midrange. When the Wizards trim it to 122-116, Golden State answers with one of the biggest shots of the night: Gui Santos knocks down a corner three off a Porziņģis assist to stretch it back to 122-113, and Santos keeps pouring it in all night on his way to 27 points on 67% shooting.

But even then, Washington keeps hanging around. J. Hardy buries a late step-back three to make it 127-123, and W. Riley splashes a deep pull-up with 14.9 seconds left to cut it to 129-126. The Wizards never fully fold, and that’s what makes the final stop matter. On the next possession, Brandin Podziemski jumps the passing lane for a steal with 10.4 seconds left, slamming the door on the comeback and sealing a stat line that nearly matches the all-around impact of the night: 22 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. His late three at 2:13 also helps Golden State keep Washington from getting over the top.

It’s a win, but not a comfortable one. Golden State’s offense was sharp enough to survive because Porziņģis and Santos combined for 55 points, Podziemski filled the box score, and Draymond kept the ball humming with 10 assists. Washington, meanwhile, leaves with a loss but also proof it can trade blows and make a contender sweat. For the Warriors, the takeaway is simple: the shot-making is there, but closing tighter matters, especially against teams willing to keep firing late. For the Wizards, this is another reminder that they can hang around in these types of games — but hanging around isn’t the same as finishing them.