The latest running mate to join the Splash Brother duo is rising star, Jordan Poole. The third-year guard has fit right in next to Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to create a dangerous trio of high-powered scoring and long-distance shooting.
On Monday, the Denver Nuggets had no answer for the combination of Curry, Thompson and Poole in game two. The triple-threat guard trio fueled Golden State’s offense on the way to a blowout victory at San Francisco’s Chase Center to seal a 2-0 lead in the first round of the playoff series.
Although he came off the bench for his second consecutive game since returning to the court from a 12-game injury absence, Curry produced a vintage playoff performance. In only 23 minutes, Curry tallied 34 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor with five triples, four assists, three boards, a steal and a block.
With his performance on Monday, Curry became the first player to score 30 or more points in 23 minutes or less in a postseason contest.
Via @CjHolmes22 on Twitter:
From @WarriorsPR: Stephen Curry scored 34 points in 23 minutes. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, prior to tonight, no player in the shot clock era has scored as many as 30 points in 23 minutes or less in a playoff game.
— C.J. Holmes 🦹🏾♂️ (@CjHolmes22) April 19, 2022
Via @NBCSWarriors on Twitter:
Steph watched it go in from the floor 🤣 pic.twitter.com/vL4SFpnqt3
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 19, 2022
STEPH HAS 34 POINTS OFF THE BENCH pic.twitter.com/7Qr7q04aj8
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 19, 2022
Steph is just messing around at this point pic.twitter.com/8aHRZQ0Itj
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 19, 2022
After leading the Warriors to victory in game one, Poole picked up right where he left off in game two on Monday night. The 22-year-old continued to torch the Nuggets with 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field with five 3-pointers. Along with scoring, Poole showed off his eye for passing with eight assists. Pooled added five boards, two steals and a block in 34 minutes.
Behind-the-back dimes by JP 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4c0accYFUK
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 19, 2022
POOLE IS DOING IT AGAIN 💦 pic.twitter.com/0P0yrRjuj0
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 19, 2022
JP blows by Gordon 💨 pic.twitter.com/ySwGrOpLzF
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 19, 2022
Despite 63 points from Curry and Poole, Golden State’s new guard combination wasn’t done. Thompson continued to stay hot, scoring 21 points on 9-of-19 shooting from the field. The five-time All-Star buried three 3-pointers on eight attempts from deep.
Klay’s turn from downtown 💦 pic.twitter.com/Zf5ctj6xU7
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 19, 2022
Klay’s turn from downtown 💦 pic.twitter.com/Zf5ctj6xU7
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 19, 2022
The trio finished with 84 combined points on 31-of-52 (59.6%) from the field and 13-of-28 (46.4%) from deep.
The combination of Curry, Poole and Thompson could get more dangerous in game three if Curry sees an increase in playing time on Thursday in Denver.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!