The Warriors beat the third-worst team in the NBA on Friday night. Jordan Poole returned home to hugs and up-and-down shooting as Golden State (14-14) won its fourth-straight game, this time over the Wizards (5-23) and climbed back to .500.
Here are three takeaways from Friday's 129-115 win:
The Jordan Poole reunion
Jordan Poole has become a polarizing figure in the Bay Area because of a few realities. He worked to improved his game after a horrible rookie year spent bouncing between the NBA and G-League, helped the Warriors substantially in their 2022 championship, then got an extension and was punched by Draymond Green.
His performance and decision-making declined in 2023, before he was traded - along with Ryan Rollins, Patrick Baldwin Jr., cash considerations and picks - for Chris Paul in a move that saved the Warriors from his four-year, $128 million deal.
Fans had to wrestle with whether they should embrace him with open arms and deal with potential mixed feelings. But Poole was the victim in the Green incident and left on good terms with just about everyone on the roster.
That was evidenced by a very warm welcome from teammates and fans before, during and after Friday night's contest.
From fans and his former teammates:
It was an ideal situation for the Warriors, who won comfortably, as they got to enjoy Poole's return - a 25-point outing on 7-of-21 from the field and 3-of-12 from deep - without worrying all that much about the result.
Curry, Jackson-Davis, Kuminga impress in return to .500
Washington, to put it bluntly, is not a serious team. Only the Detroit Pistons, who have lost a miraculous 25-straight games, are worse than them in the Eastern Conference. The 4-24 San Antonio Spurs, who seem to be unaware they have Victor Wembanyama on their roster, are the only team between Washington and Detroit in the tanking hierarchy.
The result of Friday’s contest was not - as expected - in question.
Still, a first half free throw disparity kept things close (a 63-61 Golden State lead) going into the second half. Washington was 15-of-18 at the stripe compared to 8-of-9 for the Warriors.
But an early second-half jolt from Stephen Curry pulled them out of the doldrums and to a double-digit lead that they would not relinquish. (More on Curry below).
Trayce Jackson-Davis continued to provide major juice and production Golden State, with an 8-point, 10-rebound, near double-double in the first half. His presence was felt all night, and he finished with 10 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists and a block.
It's also a back-to-back double-double for Jackson-Davis' on the boards. The only other rookies to do that this season? Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren.
*raises eyebrows*
He wasn't the only Warriors rookie to continue a positive stretch.
Per the Warriors, Brandin Podziemski became the first Warriors rookie since Marc (not Mark!) Jackson to have 10-straight games with five-plus rebounds. That was last done in 2001… which is 22 years ago. Podziemski is 20.
Once you get over the horrifying reality that is the swift passage of time, return to the current reality, which is that the Warriors have a pair of rookies in Jackson-Davis and Podziemski, who are starting to produce with consistency.
Podziemski had 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal.
It was a game where that young energy was contagious. Jonathan Kuminga was part of that, too. He had 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and an eye-popping putback.
Just about everyone produced in some fashion. Klay Thompson poured in 20 points, Chris Paul had 10 assists, and Dario Saric had 13 of his own off the bench.
It's the first time in 15 games that the Warriors have had a game that was decided by more than five points and their first double-digit home win of the year. Those borderline nauseating streaks came to merciful ends Friday night.
Steph gets T’d up
It’s awfully rare for Stephen Curry to get a technical foul. He picked up just his second tech on the year and 27th for his career in the first half after a drive and score that he thought should have been an and-one.
He was contacted in the air and made his feelings heard to the officials, leading to the ole Curry-Kerr combo of shaking heads in disgust.
In typical Curry fashion, it was in the midst of an outrageous performance.
He looked at ease against a porous Washington defense and obliged with 30 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and a block. He was ruthless from behind the arc, going 8-of-13 from deep and 9-of-18 from the field.
The Warriors let him sit on the bench for the first time in a while in the fourth quarter, which will be appreciated ahead of a Saturday night matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers (7-20).