What we learned as Podz, Waters fuel Warriors' comeback win vs. Pels
Golden State's bench provided a much-needed spark in a 128-120 win
Stephen Curry missed his second straight game with a left shoulder injury
After a disappointing loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, the Golden State Warriors bounced back with a convincing 128-120 win on Thursday night. The Warriors were led by Jordan Poole, who scored 26 points off the bench. Poole was one of six Warriors to score in double figures, as the team's bench provided a much-needed spark.
The Warriors were without Stephen Curry, who missed his second straight game with a left shoulder injury. But Golden State's bench stepped up in his absence, led by Poole and James Wiseman. Poole was 10-of-18 from the field, including 4-of-8 from three-point range. Wiseman added 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Klay Thompson scored 14 points.
The Warriors trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, but they chipped away at the lead and eventually took control of the game in the third quarter. Poole scored 10 points in the third quarter, and Wiseman added 6 points and 5 rebounds. The Warriors outscored the Pelicans 35-23 in the third quarter to take a 93-88 lead.
The Warriors held on to their lead in the fourth quarter, and they were able to close out the game with a 12-0 run. Poole and Wiseman were again key contributors in the fourth quarter, as they combined for 10 points and 6 rebounds. The Warriors' bench finished the game with a combined 50 points, which was a big reason for the team's victory.
The Warriors will be back in action on Saturday night when they host the Los Angeles Lakers. Curry is expected to return for that game, which will be a rematch of last year's Western Conference Finals.
Here are three things we learned from the Warriors' win over the Pelicans:
- The Warriors' bench is capable of providing a big spark.
- The Warriors are a much better team when Curry is on the floor.
- The Warriors are still one of the best teams in the NBA, even without Curry.