The Golden State Warriors defeated the Washington Wizards 96-87 in their 2022 NBA preseason game on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. A dominant performance by center James Wiseman contributed significantly to the victory.
Wiseman, who skipped all of the last season’s games, was fully rehabilitated from his knee injury and managed to play in the preseason. He contributed 20 points for the Warriors in Friday’s game against the Wizards.
James Wiseman SHOWED OUT in the #NBAJapanGames
🔥 20 PTS (8-11 FGM) | 9 REB pic.twitter.com/SJn1Y7q36g
— NBA (@NBA) September 30, 2022
Being on the court for 24 minutes, he scored eight of 11 shots, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked one shot, compiling his comeback from a meniscal tear.
Against the Wizards, the Warriors played without their starting shooting guard Klay Thompson. Before the game started, the Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr revealed that the team was being cautious with Thompson’s condition. Thompson’s place was replaced by Jordan Poole. He is not expected to play in Tokyo.
James Wiseman was the story of the Warriors' preseason opener. Finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds in 23 bench minutes. Five dunks. Went 8/11 shooting. Sealed the win with a lefty hook and two FTs in final couple minutes. Moved well and was a presence at the rim.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 30, 2022
Thompson had previously been sidelined for two and a half seasons due to a torn ACL. When the Warriors faced the Toronto Raptors in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, he suffered a similar injury. As a result, despite missing out on playing in Tokyo, he returned to the Warriors’ roster in January and was listed to play in the NBA preseason.
On the other hand, the Warriors’ point guard Stephen Curry played 13 minutes, made one out of seven field goals and hit one three-pointer. Curry racked his performance by scoring six points.
The Wizards’ Rui Hachimura, born and raised in Japan, played in this game and soared by ovations from the crowd when he entered the court as starting small forward. He finished the game by scoring 13 points and grabbing nine boards.
Hachimura’s performance was boosted by his teammate, Bradley Beal, who played as a shooting guard for 18 minutes and scored nine points. Beal showed a solid in his return from a wrist injury, on 50 percent shooting made and adding three assists.
In this game, Wiseman and Hachimura were the only players to score in double figures as both teams substituted all of their starters in the second half. None of the Warriors’ starters played more than 20 minutes played.
JAMES. WISEMAN.
💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/RkgR8Cg8DG
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) September 30, 2022
Starting the third quarter, both teams gave their rookies, benches and reserved players more minutes to play in the game.
This matchup at Saitama Super Arena ended in both sides only recording 37 percent of field goals made and going 33 percent with several turnovers in the first half.
Warriors, Wizards rookies’ performances
The Warriors and the Wizards both have rookies on their rosters for this two-game preseason series.
Patrick Baldwin, the Warriors’ 28th overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, played for eight minutes and had seven points, one assist and grabbed a rebound. Baldwin also recorded 50 percent field goals made with a 33.3 three-point percentage.
This might be the highlight of the preseason opener for the Warriors — Donte DiVincenzo saves a near turnover, one-hand transition find for a James Wiseman dunk on Porzingis pic.twitter.com/XoobA8LVbs
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 30, 2022
For the Wizards, rookie Johnny Davis, who was selected 10th overall, played 22 minutes. Davis missed all five shots and finished with four points from the free throws. He contributed two rebounds and racked up three assists.
On Saturday night, October 1, the Warriors and Wizards will square off in their second NBA Tokyo preseason game.