What we learned from Warriors' preseason win over Nuggets

Share

SAN FRANCISCO -- Saying "it's just a preseason game" is a good way to take some of the emphasis off what teams do during the preseason. And yes, a lot of the time players are shaking the rust off and are getting used to their new teammates and rotation. 

But, it also gives a taste of what teams will be looking to do during the regular season. For the Warriors, their two preseason games tell us to expect lots of threes, a deeper bench and lots of Jordan Poole. 

Through 44 minutes so far, Poole has tallied 47 points and eight assists. In Golden State's 118-116 win over the Denver Nuggets, new additions Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica both had double-digit scoring nights, while the Warriors saw contributions from top to bottom with every player getting on the board.

Here are three takeaways from their first home game of the season:

The Poole file

As an encore to his standout performance two nights before, Jordan Poole once again showed his value as a replacement starter for Klay Thompson. But this time, instead of torching from beyond the arc in his best Klay impression, he did it at the hoop.

He scored 17 points -- 12 in the first half -- on six-of-14 shooting. Given the green light to shoot from head coach Steve Kerr, Poole knocked down just one 3-pointer. Instead of showing his range, he showed his grown ball-handling abilities, getting to the hoop and finishing at the rim all night long. 

Before the game, Kerr said that while Poole hasn't officially been given the starting shooting guard job for the regular season, he'd have to think about if there would be a different starting lineup he'd want to see that excluded Poole. 

But, on Wednesday night, Poole showed that when he wasn't playing alongside Curry, he could also lead the second unit.

The Porter file

During the summer, Otto Porter Jr. was a player discussed as someone who would be a great fit for the Warriors if he could stay healthy. Coming off an injury-riddled season last year, he was a high-risk, high-reward kind of guy. 

So far, he's been more rewarding than risky. 

Against the Nuggets, Porter went for 15 points on five-of-seven shooting, nine rebounds and three assists.

In the second quarter, he hit a corner three-pointer kicked out to him by none other than Curry. That was one of his four threes -- all of which he hit in the first half. Two others were hit back-to-back, just moments before he fought to secure the Warriors a jump-ball opportunity. 

RELATED: El Viaje: JTA feels constant pressure to succeed, build legacy

On Media Day, Porter said his body felt better heading into this season than it has in a while, and the way he is playing is backing up that statement. 

The Rookie file

Once again, the Warriors' two lottery picks, Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga didn't see any playing time in the first half, and when they entered the game in the third quarter, they had quiet nights. 

Kuminga -- who was celebrating his 19th birthday -- once again entered the game in the third quarter. He finished with three points, two rebounds and one assist.

Moody, who entered in the fourth, scored six points off two 3-pointers -- one from the corner and the other from the top left of the arc. 

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Contact Us