In a thrilling game between two of the best teams in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors emerged victorious over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. Led by Jordan Poole’s explosive fourth-quarter Performance and Stephen Curry’s clutch shots down the stretch, the Warriors overcame a monster game from Joel Embiid to earn a hard-fought 120-112 win.
The game was crucial for both teams as they jockeyed for playoff positions in their respective conferences. The Warriors entered the game in sixth place in the Western Conference, while the 76ers were battling the Boston Celtics for the second spot in the East. With so much on the line, both teams came out firing on all cylinders, and the game quickly turned into a back-and-forth battle.
The first quarter saw both teams’ trade baskets, with no team able to establish a significant lead. The Warriors got a boost from Klay Thompson, who hit several key shots to keep the game close. Meanwhile, the 76ers were led by Joel Embiid, who dominated in the post and scored at will.
The game was 23-27 76ers leading in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Warriors started to gain some momentum. The dynamic backcourt of Curry led them. The Warriors lead the second quarter by 6 points. The 76ers fought back, however, and cut the lead to just two points by halftime.
The third quarter was a see-saw affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to pull away. Embiid continued to dominate for the 76ers, while the Warriors got contributions from Thompson and Draymond Green. The game was 88- 79 76ers leading in the third quarter.
That’s when Poole took over. The second-year guard, who has been a revelation for the Warriors this season, scored 19 of his team-high 33 points in the fourth quarter. He hit several key shots down the stretch, including a clutch three-pointer that gave the Warriors a six-point lead with just over a minute remaining.
Curry also came up big in the fourth quarter, hitting two crucial shots that broke a late tie and helped seal the win for the Warriors. The two-time MVP finished with 29 points. Despite the loss, the 76ers can take some solace because they played well without James Harden, who was out with a sore Achilles.
Harris and Maxey had solid games, scoring 23 and 21 points, respectively. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the Warriors, who are now riding a three-game winning streak and are looking like a dangerous team heading into the playoffs. The win was a testament to the Warriors’ resilience and depth. With Thompson back in the lineup and Poole emerging as a star, they have one of the best backcourts in the league. Green remains a defensive stalwart, while Andrew Wiggins and Juan Toscano-Anderson provide scoring and energy off the bench.