The Warriors tightened the defensive screws with Durant on the sidelines with a strained calf, limiting the Portland Trail Blazers to 12 points in a decisive third quarter en route to a runaway 110-81 victory in Game Two of their National Basketball Association Western Conference first-round play-off series.
Durant was Golden State's leading scorer in their 121-109 Game 1 victory. Durant got to rest and the Warriors got to roll.
Golden State swept the Trail Blazers 4-0 in their regular season series, which gives even more incentive for them to lean on Curry and make sure Durant's injury doesn't become an ongoing issue.
Durant was a force that the Blazers simply couldn't handle in Game 1, going for 32 points on just 20 shots and grabbing 11 rebounds to boot. The Warriors should win the series against Portland, even without Durant, even shorthanded - Shaun Livingston is out in Game 2 and Matt Barnes still isn't back from a rolled ankle. As Kerr said before Game 2, playing KD just isn't worth the risk of aggravating the injury. But I'm getting better every day.
Ian Clark also made an impact on the final result, banking 13 points in 25 minutes. They absolutely want him back as soon as possible, but the Warriors didn't just survive him being out - they thrived. "It felt good to finish the game but afterward it tightened up on me a little bit and I was sore for the next few days".
The Local Portland and California people can watch the Live Blazers vs Warriors game on TV if already have a cable or satellite provider. And after Curry's injury in last year's postseason, another hobbled superstar is the last thing the Warriors need.
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When asked after the game about an athletic trainer checking him in the third quarter and whether anything was wrong, Durant said, "No, I'm cool".
McGee teamed up with Draymond Green to anchor the Warrior defense, who held Portland's fiery backcourt of Lillard and C.J. McCollum to just 23 points combined.
Golden State struggled mightily when Durant went down at the end of February, but they quickly rebounded. The Blazers came within one point of the home team midway through the second period and finished the first half down 55-46.
Game 3 between the Warriors and Trail Blazers will take place Saturday night in Portland. "Our guys understand that's the name of the game".
"It's twinged", Kerr said. That would be as close as they'd get, though, as the Warriors would immediately go on an 8-0 run and take a 55-46 advantage into halftime. But the difference that was seen throughout Game 2, and what should carry on through Game 3 and the remainder of the series, is the difference in bench play between the two teams.
On Sunday, they had to deal with a red-hot scoring duo, right from the start, and Curry and Thompson knew that they could survive it. It's time for Game 3 and a chance for Golden State to put Portland on the brink.
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