Poole wins 41 points, Thompson 31. Warriors defeat Blazers 118-112
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jordan Poole scored 41 points, Klay Thompson made a key 3-pointer with 1:36 left and added 31, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-112 on Friday night to improve the league’s best home record to 16-2.
Damian Lillard did his part to rally the Trail Blazers at halftime. He ended up with 34 points, nine boards and five assists.
Poole recorded his second 40 point game in the 15 previous contests. Golden State was within 110-109 with his 3 at 2:57, but Poole turned the ball over before Jonathan Kuminga’s two-handed drive for the lead.
Draymond green blocked a shot on consecutive defensive sequences and grabbed the rebound.
Ty Jerome scored a half-court buzzer beater to end quarter one, putting Golden State up 41-25. much to the delight of a cheering Stephen Curry As the reigning NBA Finals MVP, Poole missed his eighth straight game because of a partially dislocated shoulder. Curry missed nine games, and Poole was the Warriors’ leading scorer in nine.
The Blazers have lost four of their last five games and five of seven. They started the third with a 19-9 run to lead 75-69. Anfernee Simons scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Lillard, Simons and a total of 8 for 26 were long-range shooters.
Portland called timeout at the 10:25 mark of the first after the Warriors jumped out to a 9-0 lead by making their first four shots — three by Thompson.
Golden State won the series’ last four and home four games in succession.
GP2’S ROUND NIGHT
Gary Payton II, Portland’s guard, is still in recovery from a core muscle injury. He signed a three-year, $28 million contract with the Trail Blazers. Green gave him his championship ring.
“It’s just amazing,” Payton said during a quick stop at halftime. He met many old friends and worked in the arena.
His impact for Golden State in one season was monumental — “he became a fan favorite here in a short amount of time,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said.
“I’m pretty sure it’s a validating moment to be able to first and foremost earn a championship ring,” Billups said. “He just wasn’t on the team and kind of watching from the sideline, he helped earn that ring, and he played his part. So it’s actually awesome for him, all the attention will be on him tonight.”
Golden State had previously cut him during the preseason and then brought him home.
“We don’t win the championship without him, I know that,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers – Jusuf Nurkic, the big man, sat out due to illness. This was the second time he missed a game in the past five. … The Blazers were able to score 12 points for 39 from the deep. … Billups said Payton is “close, very close,” to making his season debut. … Portland won the last time on Golden State’s floor with a victory of 124 to 108 on March 26, 2021.
Warriors: C James Wiseman rolled his left ankle taking part in a 3-on-3 scrimmage after the morning shootaround and Kerr said “it doesn’t seem too serious.” All-Star Andrew Wiggins also took part in that scrimmage as he works back from an illness that followed his stint sidelined by tightness in his right upper leg — 13 in a row missed overall. After one more practice day, it is expected that he will be ready to play on Monday. F JaMychal is now out of league safety and health protocols, but is still battling an infection in his lower right thigh.
NEXT
Trail Blazers: One game at home to host Billups’ Pistons team Monday night.
Warriors: Atlanta will host the Warriors on Monday night.
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