SAN FRANCISCO — Jordan Poole is probably too young to remember 311 in its heyday.
The reggae/hip-hop rock band still has a large cult following, but were fading out of radio rotations (iPod playlists?) by the time the 23-year-old Poole knew what’s what. Klay Thompson is a 90s baby, though, and he was probably bobbing his head to “Amber” and “All Mixed Up” growing up.
After dropping 72 combined points in Friday’s 118-112 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, Klay revealed his nickname for the backcourt duo.
"We call each other 311 like the band,” Thompson said.
Poole, who wears the No. 3, dropped 41 points. Klay, who wears No. 11 dropped 31. Now the Dubs are riding a four-game win streak, 19-18 overall and above .500 for the first time in three weeks.
Without Steph Curry, who will be re-evaluated again in about a week with his left shoulder subluxation, Poole and Klay are expected to carry the offensive load.
Poole continues to do his best Curry impression – with the splashing and the slicing of defenses. Twelve days removed from dropping a career-high 43 points, Poole topped 40 again. That means he’s scored 40+ twice in seven games after not doing it in 236 contests to begin his career.
What made Poole’s effort impressive was the fact he overcame six first-half turnovers, committing just one more in the second half. Poole showed the ability to score at all three levels while going 14-of-23 from the field and 5-of-10 from 3-point land.
Klay also stepped up with 31 big points, including 15 in the first quarter when he helped the Warriors stake a big lead. Thompson scored seven quick ones and as the Warriors jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first 95 seconds.
“They were both so explosive,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
The 72 points marks the most combined in a game by Klay and Poole in their career as teammates. Poole might be headed to bench once Curry returns in January, but for now, they're both getting buckets as starters.
“I think we kinda built that chemistry last year,” Thompson said. “It’s paying dividends this year and JP is such an amazing shot creator, as well as playmaker, and it’s easy to play off him when he puts so much pressure on the defense. I think we have good synergy between us.”
From that fast start, the Warriors soon faded. The Blazers could seemingly get to the rim at will in the second and third quarters while building a lead as big as 11. For the second straight game, the Warriors showed mettle that they didn’t possess in November.
To be fair, they made Friday’s game more exciting than it should have been. After jumping out to a 41-25 lead after the first quarter over the Blazers, the Warriors almost fumbled away the game with some sloppy defense. Or, they just wanted to make it dramatic.
Despite trailing by eight points with just over four minutes to go, the Warriors pulled off an intense comeback, outscoring the Blazers 16-2 to close out the game. Poole and Klay accounted for eight of the final 16 points. Klay's 3-pointer with 1:37 left electrified Chase, as it made it a two-possession game.
The team also got huge contributions from Donte DiVincenzo, Jonathan Kuminga, and of course, Draymond Green, who continues to be a savant on defense.
Combined with Wednesday night's 112-107 win over the Utah Jazz, when the young second unit surmounted a double-digit deficit in the third quarter to come back, Draymond has been impressed with how the Warriors haven't folded, like they were doing to begin the year.
"I think we're just starting to fight," Green said.
The Warriors are back to their winning ways and Andrew Wiggins could return Monday against the Hawks after missing 10 games with an adductor strain and the past three due to illness. JaMychal Green (leg infection) could also return soon, as Golden State continues to hold down the fort without its superstar Curry. James Wiseman remains day-to-day with an ankle injury after rolling it Friday morning in a 3-on-3 scrimmage.
“We have confidence in who we are and we know what we are capable of with our players,” Poole said. “With our new guys just starting to fit in and find their roles and it’s all coming together. It’s all coming together.”
