Game 2s: The Poole Party đź’¦
04/19/2022
By: Jeff Yoder
The Warriors Are Back, And Jordan Poole Has Made the Splash Bros Duo Into a Trio
Both the Warriors and 76ers took 2-0 series leads on Monday night behind their young stars’ breakout performances, an MVP domination in Philly and a sharpshooting renaissance in Golden State. I think that’s all she wrote in two of our opening series, but the Mavericks found a way out minus Luka Doncic. When the dust settled on Monday night, there’s one thing that’s certain: The Warriors ‘Splash Bros’ duo of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson just added a third sniper. With 59 points in back-to-back games, including five 3s in each contest, Jordan Poole has arrived. Here are the recaps from another night of NBA postseason action.
Game 2 Highlights
Gm 2:Â Warriors def. Nuggets (126-106)
Jordan Poole (29 points) shined once again with five 3s in the Warriors’ drumming of the Nuggets. He made NBA history as the first player with back-to-back games of five 3s in his first two NBA playoff games. The trio of Poole, Steph Curry (34 points) and Klay Thompson (21 points) combined for 94 points with 13 combined 3-pointers in a trifecta-torching clinic. Nuggets’ MVP candidate Nikola Jokic was ejected late after a pair of technical fouls from battling the officiating. Games 1 and 2 were all Warriors, and they look even stronger with Curry’s re-emergence from injury. Western Conference, beware. GSW Leads Series (2-0)
Gm 2:Â 76ers def. Raptors (112-97)
Out East, Philadelphia took a commanding 2-0 lead in the series with a blowout of Toronto on Monday. The 76ers put the Raptors in a 24-point hole heading into the fourth quarter. MVP candidate Joel Embiid (31 points, 11 rebounds) dominated the Raptors inside while Tyrese Maxey (23 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists) was magnificent once again. James Harden was held to just 14 points, but the Sixers control the series. PHI Leads Series (2-0)
Gm 2:Â Mavericks def. Jazz (110-104)
Another game without Luka Doncic could’ve seen the Mavericks fall into a 0-2 deficit in the West’s 4-5-seed series, but Jalen Brunson had other plans. Brunson erupted for a career-high 41 points on 15-for-25 shooting, including six triples. He also added eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in an otherworldly outburst to bring Dallas back from a 10-point second-half deficit and keep the Mavs alive until Doncic’s return. Series Tied (1-1)
NBA Awards
Celtics’ guard Marcus Smart was named the 2021-22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Monday. Smart made history as the first guard to win the award since Gary Payton (1995-96). He’s only the sixth guard in league history to win the honor.
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