On January 19, 2025, Beijing time, the 20-win and 20-loss Warriors faced the 6-win and 33-loss Wizards at home. This was a must-win game for the Warriors. The Warriors' Green returned from injury, while Kuminga and Bojia were absent. The starting lineup for the Warriors was Curry, Schroder, Wiggins, Green, and Davis, while the Wizards started with Poole, Carleton, Culibali, Kuzma, and Sar. How would Poole perform against his former team?
In the first quarter, Wiggins scored a layup and Schroder hit a three-pointer, to which Poole responded with five consecutive points, making it 5-5. Green left the court due to leg tension. Schroder and Wiggins scored another five points, putting the Warriors ahead 10-5. However, Culibali, Carleton, and Sar tied the score. Looney scored four points, but Poole and Kispert added six points, giving the Wizards a two-point lead. After a timeout, Curry hit a three-pointer, but George and Kispert responded with threes of their own, extending the Wizards' lead to five points. Wiggins, Hield, and Moody also scored, but Culibali hit two more threes in response. At the end of the first quarter, the Wizards led 29-25.
In the second quarter, George hit a three-pointer and Kuzma made two free throws, giving the Wizards a nine-point lead. Curry scored five points and Payton hit a three-pointer, reducing the gap to one point. After another timeout, Valan made a hook shot, while Wiggins and Hield scored five points, allowing the Warriors to take a two-point lead. Kispert and Poole scored for the Wizards, to which Davis and Wiggins responded, leveling the score. Poole then hit two more threes, and Sar also made a three-pointer. Despite responses from Davis and Schroder, the Wizards maintained a ten-point lead. Wiggins hit a three-pointer, and Poole made two free throws, keeping the gap at nine points. Curry scored another five points, but Carleton hit a three-pointer, ending the half with the Wizards leading 60-53. Poole scored 15 points in this quarter.
In the third quarter, Kuzma scored a layup, giving the Wizards a nine-point lead. Schroder, Wiggins, and Curry went on a scoring spree, putting the Warriors ahead by one point. Poole scored five points in response, but Schroder countered with four points, tying the score. Kuzma, Poole, and Sar hit threes, while Payton and Looney tried to catch up, leaving a three-point difference. Kispert, Valan, and Carleton scored, while Moody and Schroder tried to close the gap, which stood at four points. Valan made a free throw, but Wiggins, Schroder, and Moody scored consecutively, giving the Warriors a two-point lead at the end of the third quarter, with a score of 89-87.
In the fourth quarter, Kuzma scored a layup to tie the score. Moody and Wiggins scored five points, but Kuzma scored seven points, giving the Wizards a two-point lead. Schroder and Curry made four free throws, retaking the lead by two points. Culibali and Poole scored, but Curry and Looney responded, giving the Warriors a five-point lead. Poole hit a three-pointer, but Moody, Payton, and Wiggins responded, extending the lead to seven points. Poole made two free throws, but Curry scored another five points in response, making the gap ten points. Kuzma scored five points, but Wiggins responded with five points of his own, keeping the gap at ten points with one minute left in the game. Carleton hit a three-pointer, reducing the gap to seven points. Hield made one of two free throws, as did Kuzma and Wiggins, leaving an eight-point difference. Sar missed a three-pointer, and the game ended with the Warriors defeating the Wizards 122-114, completing the comeback.
Poole scored 38 points with 12 out of 25 shots (eight out of 15 threes), adding five rebounds and five assists. Kuzma scored 22 points with seven out of 12 shots, contributing six rebounds and four assists. Culibali had 17 points, two rebounds, and three assists. Sar had 11 points and nine rebounds, while Kispert scored 10 points with four rebounds.
Curry scored 26 points with 10 out of 22 shots (four out of 14 threes), adding five rebounds and six assists. Wiggins scored 31 points with 12 out of 22 shots (four out of ten threes), achieving 11 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, setting a new record for 30+10 this season. Schroder scored 20 points with seven out of 14 shots, setting a new scoring record for his career with the Warriors. Looney had 10 points and 13 rebounds, Moody had 13 points and two rebounds, and Davis had six points and 15 rebounds.
After the victory, the Warriors overtook the Suns, who also won that day, becoming the tenth seed in the West, while the Suns dropped to eleventh. The Warriors, Kings, and Suns have the same record, leaving the playoff picture uncertain.