The Denver Nuggets picked wrong. Jordan Poole delivered the poison.
Earlier this week, Steph Curry said the Warriors had a “pick your poison-type vibe” when he, Poole and Klay Thompson were on the floor together. With 5:24 left in Thursday night’s game, Poole and Thompson entered a tied contest. By the time the clock struck zeroes, the Warriors claimed a 113-102 victory. That’s an 11-point swing in the game’s most crucial moments.
The win was punctuated by a huge, last-minute splash from Poole, who was left completely unguarded when Monte Morris and Austin Rivers both tracked Curry at the top of the key. Morris and Rivers could only throw up their hands in confusion once Poole knocked down the bucket to push the lead to 5 points.
It’s the exact type of predicament coach Steve Kerr envisions for Warriors opponents with Poole, Curry and Klay together. If you’re going to double one of them, there’s a good chance one of the other two guys will be open. Poole showed what can happen when you make the wrong move.
"We feed off of each other really well, all three of us," Poole said. "We were able to show that a little bit tonight. Those guys are just so dynamic and their threats. Just being able to get them easy buckets and get them going throughout the night while continuing to be aggressive and attacking my man."
It doesn't hurt when your man is nowhere to be found.
The next possession down, Poole also got wide open in the corner after Steph dribbled around some screens from the other side of the court. The result? Another splash.
"It's kind of a lot to juggle for the defense," Poole said.
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Poole finished the evening with 21 points, seven assists and a +29 plus/minus in 34 minutes. His recent heater has continued, as he has now dropped at least 20 in five straight contests after not accomplishing the feat for a month. Poole went 8-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-7 from 3-point range, staying hot from distance.
"I thought this was one of the best games Jordan has played," Kerr said. "He's strung together four or five good ones in a row now and he's really coming into his own."
The big finish helped wipe out a deficit that reached as high as 14 before Curry took over the third quarter. He finished with a game-high 34 points on 5-of-12 from 3-point land, while Thompson continued to struggle with his shot (7-for-20) but chipped in 18 points.
Curry and Thompson already have their three championship rings, but Poole hasn't been to the playoffs. He's still learning the ropes and Thursday night was another lesson in winning.
That’s 73 points from the Pick Your Poison trio. Or are they the Splash Triplets now? With more performances like this, Poole will force himself into the moniker mix.
