Jordan Poole starts Game 4 in Kings-Warriors playoff series; Draymond Green gets benched

The Warriors chose to start Jordan Poole instead of Green, who returned to the team after serving a one-game suspension for stomping on Kings center Domantas Sabonis in a Game 2 loss Monday in Sacramento. Green came off the bench in a postseason game for the first time under coach Steve Kerr after starting 132 consecutive playoff games.

The Kings were clinging to a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series after suffering a 114-97 loss to the Warriors in Game 3 on Thursday. Warriors coach Steve Kerr elected to start Poole again after finding success with him in the lineup in Game 3.

Kerr didn’t reveal his plan to bring Green off the bench during his pregame news conference, but he hinted at a change.

“There are definitely more things to consider today given our performance the other night, given the number of people who are capable of contributing,” Kerr said. “So, we definitely have some decisions to make rotationally, and you can ask me about them after the game.”

Poole finished with 16 points on 4-of-13 shooting with five rebounds, four assists and three steals in 28 minutes against the Kings in Game 3. The 23-year-old guard has been nursing an ankle injury, but Kerr said he’s feeling better after having multiple days off between games.

“I asked him yesterday and he said it was a lot better in Game 3 than Game 2 (after) getting a couple of extra days,” Kerr said. “Between the lower minutes and the two days before the next game, he was feeling much better before Game 3, and then another couple of days between games again, so he’s feeling fine.”

Poole is no stranger to the starting lineup after starting 94 games over the past two seasons. He appeared in all 82 games this season and started 43 times, averaging 20.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists.