How Warriors won the game vs. Wizards, but Poole won the night

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How Warriors won the game vs. Wizards, but Poole won the night originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – There were under two seconds left on the shot clock when Jordan Poole released the last shot he’d make Saturday night in the Warriors’ 122-114 win against his Washington Wizards. Lindy Waters was sticking with Poole’s slick dribbling moves, sliding to stay in front of his escape plan.

Until he jumped.

Poole gathered his feet for what looked to be a last-second 3-point attempt, prompting Waters to get off the ground and contest the shot. And understandably so. Poole’s ability to free-wheel, to adapt in the moment, took over. He stepped through with his left foot and drained what looked like a one-footed floater from 28 feet.

Backpedaling to the other side of the court, Poole hushed the Chase Center crowd. The shot that gave Poole 36 points to bring the Wizards within one point with a little over five minutes remaining in the game was a clone of something maybe only LaMelo Ball would do. But this Warriors what-if isn’t a hypothetical.

The Warriors won the game. Poole won the night.

Saturday was his second game back as a Warriors opponent after being traded the morning of the 2023 NBA Draft, just days after new general manager Mike Dunleavy said he wasn’t going to deal him. Poole then became a Wizard three days after his 24th birthday, and nine months after signing a four-year, $123 million contract extension.

Lying on the ground from an Andrew Wiggins foul, Poole stuck his tongue out and celebrated a to-be four-point play. He later stuck his tongue out at the Warriors crowd after gliding through the paint for a layup, and got right in former teammate Gary Payton II face, who happens to be one of his best friends, after hitting a three on him.

The ball barely touched Poole’s fingertips behind the 3-point line in the right corner, right in front of the Warriors’ bench, when his three gave the Wizards a two-point lead in the third quarter. With the ball in flight, Poole walked backwards in slow motion. As it went through the net, he stared directly at his former teammates, new…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-won-game-vs-wizards-085941741.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2025-01-19 08:59:00

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