The Warriors bottled up the Blazers in the fourth quarter, riding a game-changing surge to a 121-109 win in Game 1 of the first-round series Sunday afternoon at Oracle Arena.
The first-round playoff matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers is nearly certain to be a high-scoring series, and it also appears it will be a trash-talking series.
Four players are averaging at least 10.2 points per game for the Warriors, they are: Stephen Curry (25.3), Kevin Durant (25.1), Klay Thompson (22.3) and Draymond Green (10.2). "But the problem was they had 88 points. We know how we execute what our bread and butter is at the other end of the floor and we've got to rely on that and not get into that one-on-one battle at all".
Which happens to be the speciality of this current version of the Warriors' second-unit, concocted at midseason.
The game was still knotted to start the fourth quarter, but the Warriors went on a 13-2 run to start the period.
NBA Playoff Teams are already set and the Portland Trail Blazers are looking for an early upset. Bench players Festus Ezeli and Leandro Barbosa-occasional contributors Marreese Speights and Brandon Rush-all found new National Basketball Association homes last offseason.
We can only wonder what was said, but it probably would be very entertaining to listen to.
As a team, the Blazers shot 43 percent from the field and 11 of 30 from the three-point line as they matched the Warriors for three quarters before getting outscored by 33-21 in the fourth quarter.
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The presentation was mostly a game of teasing hints about the film while revealing very little about it. We then hear further narration from the Emperor, as we see TIE Fighters chasing the Millennium Falcon.
"When you block it at the rim, it's a little different", Green said. It's a game we all love.
Can the Golden State Warriors cruise to an easy win at home when they host Game 1 of their series against the Portland Trail Blazers today at 3:30PM ET? Easily the worst defender of the group, Clark's a microwave scorer when hot. I mean, CJ in the first half was outstanding. "The game ratchets up when you get into the playoffs, so it definitely felt good out there".
Lillard smiled and played along. Aminu angled left at Draymond Green, who muscled Aminu away and forced a no-chance runner that airballed into the hands of Iguodala. The Blazers called timeout to stem momentum.
The highlight of the quarter and, possibly, the night was one of Green's five blocks.
But Butler dribbled off a few seconds and sealed the victory with a two free throws with just three seconds on the clock. The Warriors led by 11. And Portland got that from both Lillard and McCollum. One reason for the surge has been the addition of center Jusuf Nurkic in a trade with Denver. The two stars closed strong.
Durant led the Warriors with 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting, and Curry finished with 29 of his own.
"I think the league has softened up a lot, and it's not like that so you've got to have a rough guy like him out there", Lillard said. "It's a credit to their defense".
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