Warriors rally back to beat Philadelphia 76ers

Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a basket in the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Chase Center on March 24, 2023 in San Francisco, California.Kavin Mistry/Getty Images

2023.03.24 – Jordan Poole scored 33 points, Stephen Curry added 29, and the Golden State Warriors rallied past Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers 120-112 on Friday night.

Poole emerged as one of Golden State’s most dependable performers during the championship run last season.

He resembled that go-to guy once again Friday night when the Warriors needed everything he had, with the ever-reliable Draymond Green doing his thing, too.

Poole scored a key 3-pointer with 1:18 to play off a pretty pass by Green, “Opportunity,” Poole said of his stellar fourth quarter playing all 12 minutes.

“Tonight something about it felt like last year in that playoff run when Jordan was just attacking and knocking down shots but also getting to the line just giving us an entirely different dimension offensively,” coach Steve Kerr said. “That’s when he’s at his best. I thought he really competed down the stretch defensively as well. He was magnificent tonight.”

Embiid checked back into the game with 8:26 left and scored 13 straight on the way to 46 points, but the Warriors came back from 11 down for their ninth straight home win — and one of the most important yet as they fight for playoff positioning.

2023.03.24 – Warriors vs. 76ers (NBA Video highlights)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, right, looks to pass the ball while being defended by Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

2023.03.24 – Warriors vs. 76ers (NBA Video highlights)

Watch this video on YouTube

2023.03.24 – Warriors vs. 76ers (NBA Video highlights)

Green noted: “Nobody wants to be in that play-in, the play-in is dangerous.”

Curry dribbled the baseline and around Embiid for a go-ahead jumper with 2:20 to play. Klay Thompson tied it at 104 with 5:05 left, only for Embiid to drive straight down the key for a dunk. He did miss consecutive shots in crunch time, too.

Poole’s driving dunk with 8:27 left got Golden State back to 93-91 then Kevon Looney’s putback after Embiid blocked a layup try by Poole cut it to 102-101.

Head coach Steve Kerr showed his urgency by playing Curry for the entire fourth quarter.

“It felt like such a big game for us,” Kerr said. “Every game is big, but we knew Steph was on track for 38 minutes. He didn’t look tired and he told us he felt fine, so we stayed with him.”

Embiid shot 13 for 23, made 19 of 22 free throws and had nine rebounds, eight assists and two steals. He helped Philadelphia take an 88-79 lead going into the fourth. He had his streak of scoring 30 or more points in a franchise-record 10 straight games snapped in Wednesday’s 116-91 win at Chicago but made up for it.

Looney started the game guarding Embiid, with Draymond Green, JaMychal Green and Jonathan Kuminga later taking their turns. Embiid is a handful at 7 feet and 280 pounds, with uncommon mobility and a deft shooting touch.

Golden State nemesis James Harden sat out with left Achilles soreness for the Sixers, who had won nine of 10 and 10 of 12.

Thompson added 21 points and six rebounds and Looney contributed six points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as the Warriors reached 30 home wins for the sixth time since 2014-15 and second in a row.

2023.03.24 – Warriors vs. 76ers (NBC Sports post game)

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, top, shoots over Golden State Warriors forward sKevon Looney (5) and Draymond Green (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

2023.03.24 – Warriors vs. 76ers (NBC Sports post game)

Watch this video on YouTube

2023.03.24 – Warriors vs. 76ers (NBC Sports post game)

“You want to take care of home court as best as you can,” Poole said.

Green had 10 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for Golden State, which had some momentum from two straight wins on the road following an 11-game skid away from Chase Center.

“I feel good. It’s that time of year you’ve got to turn everything up a notch,” Green said. “I love this time of year.”

The Warriors are now 30-7 at Chase Center this season. They’ve won 13 of their past 14 games there, including nine straight, and they haven’t lost on their home court since Feb. 11.

Philadelphia, which had won the last two match-ups, made 10 of 17 shots to start the game but missed its first eight 3-point tries before Georges Niang connected at the 8:06 mark of the second quarter.

Green offered a theory for Embiid’s huge night, which included a 19-for-22 effort from the free-throw line.

“He told me, ‘You know why I played like that tonight? You said (Nikola) Jokic was the hardest guy to guard in the league,’ ” Green said. “So let me say, Joel is the hardest guy to guard in the league. …

“We tried to keep him off-balance. The way Loon battled, the hope is you wear him down. Some of those shots he made throughout the game, he missed a few in the last six minutes.”

GOLF OUTING

Sixers coach Doc Rivers likes to get a round of golf in when visiting the Bay Area. He realizes how lucky he was to get to golf this trip — he played San Francisco Golf Club — given the recent crazy weather.

Coolsculpting try it today.

2023.03.24 – Warriors vs. 76ers (Kruger Show post game)

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, center, try to shoot over Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney (5) right during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

2023.03.24 – Warriors vs. 76ers (Kruger Show post game)

Watch this video on YouTube

2023.03.24 – Warriors vs. 76ers (Kruger Show post game)

“I hear you guys had a tiny storm come in,” he cracked.

TIP-INS

76ers: P.J. Tucker shot 0 for 5 and was held scoreless. … Rivers figures Harden might sit out against the Suns in Saturday’s back-to-back but could return at Denver on Monday night after missing his second straight game and third in four. … The Sixers are 18-8 against the Western Conference and 7-5 on the road. … F-C Jalen McDaniels also missed the game dealing with right hip soreness. He has been out the last two games and four of six.

Warriors: G Gary Payton II, yet to play for the Warriors since being acquired at the trade deadline Feb. 12 because of right adductor rehabilitation, went through a tough pregame workout: “Another day of choppin’ wood, another day,” he said. He is slated to practice Saturday and then that will determine if he might play during this home stretch. “He’s coming along well and I think there’s a chance he could play on this home stand,” coach Steve Kerr said.

UP NEXT

76ers: At Phoenix on Saturday night to complete the road-road back-to-back.

Warriors: Host the Timberwolves on Sunday night having won the last 12 in the series at home.

Golden State (39-36) remains in the No. 6 spot, percentage points behind Phoenix (38-35) and only one-half game behind the No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers (39-35).

As Curry said, “You definitely want to stay out of the play-in tournament, because you never know how a single game could go here or there. And it helps to give you an extra week to prepare for first-round matchup.”