Double-core injury withdrawal! The Warriors have won two consecutive victories, but it is difficult to express joy as both core players, Green and Curry, were forced to leave the game due to injuries. At the same time, former player Poole faced his old team and delivered a landmark performance, scoring 8 three-pointers and a total of 38 points, making one wonder if Green's punch drove away the perfect successor to Curry.
After a tough victory over the Timberwolves in the previous game, the Warriors improved their record to 20 wins and 20 losses, returning to a 50% win rate, but still ranked 11th in the Western Conference. The Wizards, on the other hand, are in a state of disarray with a record of 6 wins and 33 losses, at the bottom of the league, and are currently on an 8-game losing streak.
Despite playing away from home, the Wizards did not show any fear against the Warriors. In the first half, under Poole's fiery performance, they firmly controlled the situation and kept pressing the Warriors. Fortunately, Curry's form improved in the second half, along with contributions from Wiggins and Schroder, and the frontcourt rebounds were continuously grabbed by the Warriors' big men, leading to a 122-114 comeback victory over the Wizards.
The Warriors have now won two consecutive games and moved up to tenth place, surpassing the Suns. The Wizards suffered their ninth consecutive loss and remain at the bottom of the standings, continuing their pursuit of the No. 1 pick in the 25-year draft, Flagler.
Although the Warriors have won consecutive victories, it is difficult to express joy. On one hand, both core players, Curry and Green, were injured in this game. On the other hand, Poole, who was previously forced to leave the team, delivered a performance worthy of being Curry's successor.
After missing multiple games due to injury, Green returned in this game but had to withdraw after only three minutes due to tightness in his calf, according to the Warriors' official statement.
Another core player, Curry, who was already playing with an injured wrist, appeared to injure his right foot while defending Poole in the final moments of the game. He limped off the court early for examination.
Perhaps affected by his wrist injury, Curry's shooting was off in this game, making only 4 out of 14 three-point attempts. However, he made a decisive three-pointer in the crucial moment, finishing with 26 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block to lead the team to victory.
In contrast, Poole's outside shooting was scorching hot in this game. He went 12 for 25 from the field, including 8 for 15 from beyond the arc, and made all six free throws, scoring a total of 38 points with 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
This reflects Poole's overall performance this season. Since the start of the season, Poole has averaged 21.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, making an average of 3.7 three-pointers with a high shooting percentage of 40.7%.
With such performances, Poole has consistently ranked in the top ten among Eastern Conference guards in the first three rounds of All-Star voting.
Whether in terms of court positioning or personal style of play, Poole is clearly the perfect successor and partner to Curry, having repeatedly proven himself during the Warriors' championship-winning season.
Unfortunately, Green's punch drove away Curry's successor, Poole, completely shattering the Warriors' original lineup configuration and championship possibilities.
The good news is that the Warriors managed to secure a hard-fought victory in this game. Despite the absence of their two core players and Curry's poor shooting, several role players stepped up to solve problems.
Among them, Wiggins smashed his thermos cup in anger, going 12 for 22 and scoring a season-high 31 points with 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks.
Schroder also played his best game since joining the Warriors, going 7 for 14, 2 for 4 from three-point range, and making all four free throws, scoring a career-high 20 points with the Warriors, adding 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.
In addition, Moody received increased trust from Coach Kerr and remained on the court during the decisive moments. He did not disappoint, playing aggressively on defense and contributing effectively, scoring 13 points with 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, and 0 turnovers for a perfect performance.
The new and old twin towers of the frontcourt, Looney and TJD, were also instrumental in the Warriors' comeback, grabbing a total of 28 rebounds, including 10 offensive rebounds.
However, in the fiercely competitive Western Conference, the Warriors' situation remains precarious. They need to maintain their winning streak and hope that Curry and Green's injuries are not serious; otherwise, one or two losses could knock them out of the playoff race.