Warriors Look to Improve Seeding Against Struggling Wizards

Golden State aims to solidify play-in spot as Washington tries to end lengthy road skid.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 2:25pm by Ben Kaplan

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With a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament almost assured, the Golden State Warriors will look to improve their positioning down the stretch, beginning with a Friday matchup against the struggling Washington Wizards. The Warriors have won two straight after a recent slump, led by the emergence of players like Gui Santos and Kristaps Porzingis stepping up in the absence of injured stars. Meanwhile, the Wizards are trying to end a franchise-record-tying 16-game losing streak, though they did get a boost from rookie Julian Reese's standout performance in their last game.

Why it matters

The Warriors are trying to lock up a play-in spot and potentially improve their seeding, while the Wizards are simply looking to end their lengthy road losing streak and build some momentum heading into the offseason.

The details

The Warriors (35-38) have pulled out of a recent tailspin, winning their past two games, including a 109-106 home victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. Coach Steve Kerr has relied on a rotating group of players to step up in the absence of injured stars like Stephen Curry. Gui Santos had a career-high 31 points in the win over the Nets, while Kristaps Porzingis has provided a boost since being acquired in a midseason trade. The Wizards (17-55), meanwhile, snapped their franchise-record-tying 16-game losing streak with a 133-110 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, led by strong performances from Jaden Hardy and rookie Julian Reese.

  • The Warriors and Wizards will face off on Friday, March 27, 2026.
  • The Wizards' 16-game losing streak was snapped on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

The players

Gui Santos

A Warriors player who has stepped up in the absence of injured stars, scoring a career-high 31 points in the team's recent win over the Nets.

Kristaps Porzingis

A midseason acquisition for the Warriors who has provided a boost, starting four of the past five games and scoring 22 points with seven rebounds against the Mavericks and 17 points with five boards against the Nets.

Julian Reese

A rookie for the Wizards who has made a strong impression in limited playing time, posting a career-high 26 points and 17 rebounds in the team's win over the Jazz. Reese joined Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan as the only rookies in the past 40 years to grab 20 rebounds in one of their first five career games.

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What they’re saying

“He's played a lot of minutes here the last month with all the injuries, and he continues to get better. He's really crafty. He's finding ways to get to the rim.”

— Steve Kerr, Warriors Head Coach

“My rebounding has a lot to do with heart. I'm not the tallest guy out there. I just try to find the angle and go get it ... It just comes with a lot of consistent effort.”

— Julian Reese

What’s next

The Warriors will look to continue improving their seeding in the Western Conference play-in tournament, while the Wizards hope to build on their recent win and end their lengthy road trip on a high note.

The takeaway

This game showcases the Warriors' depth and resilience as they try to secure a play-in spot without several key players, while the Wizards are simply looking to end their season on a positive note after a dismal campaign.