CALIFORNIA – Jordan Poole had his best game of the 2022-2023 NBA Season as Golden State Warriors cruised to a 132-95 win over San Antonio Spurs on Monday night (Tuesday in the Philippines) at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
Poole, who was tapped to start in place of rested Klay Thompson, tallied 36 points, including five three-point conversions, as the Warriors returned to their winning ways for a 6-8 record.
Anthony Lamb added 17 markers, Stephen Curry contributed 16 points in limited minutes, while Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Andrew Wiggins had 15, 11 and 10, respectively, for GSW.
The Warriors made their presence felt early behind baskets by Poole and Curry for a 33-26 lead before widening it further in the second period with Lamb and Kuminga contributing for a 61-45 halftime spread.
Poole went on with its offensive outburst in the second half, highlighted by a triple and a four-point play in the fourth quarter, as the lead reached its largest at 41 points.
Keldon Johnson top-scored with 15 points, Keita Bates-Diop and rookie Jeremy Sochan added 12 markers apiece, while Josh Richardson ended with 10 as the Spurs slumped to 6-8.
Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo scored on two go-ahead free throws while Jimmy Butler put on a huge defensive stop as Miami Heat (7-7) defeated Phoenix Suns (8-5), 113-112.
Down 111-112 following a basket by Suns’ Cameron Payne, Adebayo drew a foul and drilled two free throws to give Miami a 113-112 lead with 35 seconds left in the game.
Phoenix still had a chance to snatch the victory but Butler put up a huge defensive stand for Miami as he blocked the final shot attempt of Suns’ Devin Booker.
Adebayo ended with season-high 30 points to go with 10 rebounds, Butler added 16 markers, while Caleb Martin and Kyle Lowry ended with 15 points each for the Heat.
BOX SCORE:
GOLDEN STATE 132 — Poole 36, Lamb 17, Curry 16, Kuminga 15, Moody 11, Wiggins 10, J. Green 9, DiVincenzo 5, Rollins 5, D. Green 4, Looney 2, Wiseman 2.
SAN ANTONIO 95 — Johnson 15, Bates-Diop 12, Sochan 12, Richardson 10, Roby 8, McDermott 7, Bassey 7, Poeltl 6, Vassell 6, Dieng 6, Hall 6.
Quarterscores: 33-26, 61-45, 99-68, 132-95./PN
