As trade speculation rages, the Warriors will spend a couple hours Monday chasing their first consecutive wins in 2020 against a Washington Wizards team that has been utilizing one of the smallest starting lineups in NBA history.
Pregame coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 3 p.m. PT, with tipoff scheduled for 4:10 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
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The Warriors (11-39), snapped a five-game losing streak with a 131-112 victory over the Cavaliers on Saturday in Cleveland, have not experienced back-to-back wins since beating the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day and the Phoenix Suns two days later.
Their cause on Monday might be impacted by the availability of leading scorer D’Angelo Russell, who will miss the game with a right quad contusion. The Warriors are 3-15 when D-Lo is out of the lineup.
The Wizards (17-31) have started each of their last two games with a three-guard lineup surrounding 6-foot-11 center Ian Mahinmi and 6-8, 180-pound “power forward” Isaac Bonga. The guards were 6-5 Bradley Beal, 6-2 Gary Payton II and 5-9 Isaiah Thomas.
Though the lineup has been successful -- Washington won both games -- the return of 6-11 Moe Wagner (VOG-ner) and 6-8 230-pound Rui Hachimura could lead to a lineup change.
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PROJECTED LINEUPS
Warriors
F Glenn Robinson III
F Draymond Green
C Marquese Chriss
G Damion Lee
G Jacob Evans
Wizards
F Gary Payton II
F Isaac Bonga
C Ian Mahinmi
G Bradley Beal
G Isaiah Thomas
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: G D’Angelo Russell (R quad contusion) is listed as out. G Steph Curry (L hand fracture) and G Klay Thompson (L ACL rehab) are listed as out. G Ky Bowman and F Alen Smailagic are on assignment with the G League Santa Cruz Warriors.
Wizards: F Davis Bertans (neck tightness) is listed as questionable and will be a game-time decision. G Jordan McRae (R ankle sprain) and G John Wall (L Achilles’ tendon rehab) are listed as out.
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Warriors: If Russell is unable to play, the Warriors have only two viable options at PG: 1) Alec Burks, who has made 18 starts and 2) Jacob Evans III, who has made one start in two NBA seasons. Don’t rule out Evans, as the Warriors have hinted about giving him more opportunities.
The Warriors have used 22 different starting lineups. If Evans gets the start, the number rises to 23.
The Warriors have won their last five games against the Wizards but have yet to win consecutive road games this season.
Green is averaging 11.5 assists over the last four games. Robinson has been on a quiet tear, scoring in double figures seven consecutive games, averaging 15.9 ppg on efficient 59.7 pct. shooting from the field, including 44.1 pct. from beyond the arc.
Chriss has started the last four games since the trade of Willie Cauley-Stein and is averaging 11.8 ppg on 62.5 pct. shooting.
Wizards: The contributions of the starting lineup can be misleading, as Washington’s reserves have been the most prolific in the league since the calendar turned to 2020. Four different players have posted 30-point games off the bench. Only the Clippers (51.2) are averaging more than the Wizards’ 50.9 ppg off the bench.
Beal has been lighting it up lately. The All-Star snub has scored at least 30 points in his last six games (for the first time in his six-year career), averaging 38.2 ppg during that span.
[RELATED: Curry torched Wizards for 51 points four years ago today]
Payton, son of Oakland native and Hall of Famer Gary Payton, has his father’s hands. Since his debut with the Wizards on Dec. 23, he ranks seventh in the NBA in steals, with 32.
The Wizards have won six of seven home games over the last month.
Officials: Ed Malloy (crew chief), Ray Acosta, Nate Green.