SAN FRANCISCO — Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson made sure the Golden State Warriors would be ringing in the new year on a win streak.
The Warriors overcame a double-figure deficit in the second half for the second consecutive game to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-112 Friday night.
Poole scored 41 points and Thompson added 31 and knocked down seven 3s to extend the Warriors’ win streak to four games, their longest of the season.
On a night when fan-favorite Gary Payton II returned to Chase Center and received his championship ring, though not playing for his new team, the Warriors saw their 18-point edge in the first quarter gradually dissolve as the game went on. The Trail Blazers led by as many as 11 in the third and took an eight-point advantage in the fourth. But Poole took over in the fourth, scoring 11 points to regain control of the game.
Poole hit a 30-footer with 2:57 remaining in the game to pull the Warriors within one. Less than a minute later, Jonathan Kuminga threw down a breakaway dunk to give Golden State a one-point lead.
Thompson drained a 3 to extend the Warriors’ advantage. Kuminga blocked Damian Lillard on the other end.
A Donte DiVincenzo 3 at the top of the key was the final dagger as the Warriors pulled out another gritty win.
After giving up 71 points in the second and third quarters, the Warriors held the Blazers to just 16 in the final quarter while scoring 30.
Golden State looked dominant out of the gates, expanding its lead to as many as 18 in the first quarter. Thompson and Poole combined for 29 of the Warriors’ 41 points. A Ty Jerome near halfcourt buzzer beat to put the Warriors’ up 16 at the end of the opening quarter was the cherry on top of a great start.
But that advantage started to dissolve in the second. The Trail Blazers went on a 16-6 run over the final six minutes of the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Warriors offense went stagnant as the home team shot 2-for-12 from the field during that stretch. Golden State also turned the ball over four times.
At half, the Blazers cut the lead to just four.
But the Warriors found a way to get the game back in their control down the stretch.
This was Poole’s second time in his career he’s reached the 40-point mark in a game. His 41 points are just two shy of his career high set in Toronto earlier this month.
The 19-18 Warriors remain nearly unbeatable at home, improving to 16-2 at Chase Center. They have four games remaining on this homestand. They’ll host the Atlanta Hawks Monday, Detroit Pistons Wednesday and Orlando Magic Friday before ending this stretch of home games against the Phoenix Suns Jan. 10.
