How to Watch Warriors-Wizards Preseason Games In Japan
It’s been a crazy and wild NBA offseason, but basketball is officially back!
The 2022-23 NBA preseason schedule begins Friday, September 30 overseas in Japan as the league continues to expand to other countries in hopes of expanding the basketball brand even further.
Two teams who experienced wildly different endings to the 2021-22 season with the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards will begin in the city of Saitama, Japan, which is about 30-45 minutes from Tokyo.
Having won their fourth championship in the last eight seasons, the Warriors now find themselves as this generation’s dynasty in the league, and this could very well be the start of more championships for Golden State.
Stephen Curry looks like he has just reached the peak of his career and with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green both healthy there is no limit to what this team can continue to achieve.
The Warriors will also welcome some new faces in their second session with the arrival of JaMychal Green, Donte DiVincenzo, rookie Patrick Baldwin Jr. and the return of former runner-up James Wiseman.
On the other hand, the Washington Wizards failed to make the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons after losing 35-47 last year. Bradley Beal still remains the leader of this franchise, but the Wizards have some new faces on their roster in the likes of Will Barton, Monte Morris, and Delon Wright, all seasoned veterans who will try to lead this franchise back to its winning ways.
With two games set to be played in Japan to open the NBA preseason, here’s everything you need to know to watch those two preseason games with game times and TV, lineups, bios and other important details.
How to watch Warriors vs. Wizards – Game 1
- WHO: Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards
- IF: 6:00 p.m. ET, Friday, September 30
- WHERE: Saitama Super Arena, Saitama City, Saitama (Japan)
- TV: NBA TV
- Stream: Fubo.tv CLICK HERE
How to watch Wizards vs. Warriors – Game 2
- WHO: Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors
- IF: 1:00 am ET, Sunday, October 2nd
- WHERE: Saitama Super Arena, Saitama City, Saitama (Japan)
- TV: NBA TV
- Stream: Fubo.tv CLICK HERE
Key stats and facts for Warriors vs. Wizards
- The Warriors finished the 2021-22 season with a 53-29 record, marking the seventh time in the past nine seasons that they have won at least 50 games in the regular season.
- The Wizards finished the 2021-22 season with a 35-47 record, marking the fourth straight season they didn’t have 40 wins in the regular season.
- Golden State recently won the 2022 NBA Finals, their fourth championship in the last eight seasons.
- Donte DiVincenzo, JaMychal Green, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins are all starting their first seasons with the Golden State Warriors.
- Monte Morris, Delon Wright, Will Barton, Taj Gibson and Johnny Davis are all starting their first seasons with the Washington Wizards.
- The Warriors and Wizards met twice in the 2021-22 season, with both teams winning on their home court.
Betting Odds:
- According to Fanduel.com, the Warriors are currently 6.5-point favorites over the Wizards for Friday’s game as of Thursday afternoon.
- The over/under for the first game on Friday is currently 229.5 total points.
PROJECTED WARRIORS STARTERS (Regular Season 2022-23):
- G Stephen Curry6-foot-2 guard: 25.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists (2021-22 stats)
- G. Klay Thompson6-6 guard: 20.4 points, 3.9 rebounds
- F Andrew Wiggins6-7 forward: 17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds
- F Draymond Green6-6 forward: 7.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists
- C. Kevon Looney6-9 middle: 6.0 points, 7.3 rebounds
PROJECTED WIZARDS STARTERS (Regular Season 2022-23):
- G.Monte Morris6-2 guard: 12.6 points, 4.4 assists
- G Bradley Beal6-4 guard: 23.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.6 assists
- G/F Will Barton6-6 guard/forward: 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds
- F. Kyle Kuzma, 6-9 forward: 17.1 points. 8.5 pounds
- C. Kristaps Porzingis7-3 middle: 20.2 points, 8.1 rebounds
About the NBA Japan Games 2022:
For years, the NBA has hosted preseason games in other countries to reinforce the league’s brand as a whole. This year the NBA is playing in Japan at the Saitama Super Arena. According to the league, the event will celebrate the game of basketball and showcase the convergence of the NBA and popular culture for a unique fan experience with performances by Warriors and Wizards players, NBA legends and special celebrity guests, a slam dunk competition featuring professional dunkers , a Shooting Stars challenge, a three-point contest featuring players from the Warriors and Wizards, a musical performance by Japanese rock duo Yuzu, and more. The Golden State Warriors are sponsored by Rakuten, a Tokyo-based company, and Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura hails from Toyama, Japan, so it makes sense for these two teams to participate in this showcase.