The Trail Blazers may have just missed their best shot to take down the Golden State Warriors. For more than 40 minutes on Tuesday Portland had the defending champs on the ropes with a chance at a stunning upset. They couldn’t hold on and know may have to deal with soon-to-be two-time MVP Stephen Curry.
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TRAVEL/SCHEDULING/LETDOWN/LOOK AHEAD
After going down without much of a fight in Game 1, the Blazers came out angry on Tuesday and took the play to Golden State for much of the game. For 42 minutes Portland was doing the unthinkable: beating the Warriors in Oracle Arena, in a playoff game. Playing much the way Golden State does, Portland built a 17-point lead in the first half with crisp ball movement, accurate shooting and ball-hawking defense. But to beat the Warriors, that style of play has to be maintained for 48 minutes.
A buzzer-beating three-pointer from Damian Lillard at the end of the third quarter staked Portland to an 11-point lead entering the final 12 minutes. Then the wheels came off. Late game excellence has been a constant for Golden State in this historic season, but the run in Game 2 was most impressive in that Portland looked ready to hold on for a series-tying victory. The Blazers answered every charge with big shots to keep the Dubs from taking over, but they couldn’t do it for 48 minutes. The Warriors know how to finish and they’re a step closer to finishing off the Blazers.
INJURIES
All signs point to a possible return to the lineup for Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who missed the first two games of the series while recovering from a Grade 1 sprain in his right knee. There still are some hurdles for him to clear before he’s pronounced ready and it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see the Warriors hold him out a little longer, even if he’s cleared to play.
KEY MATCHUP
The Warriors have done just fine without Curry in the lineup, but it’s apparent that success is a bit more difficult when the MVP isn’t on the floor. The Curry-less Warriors aren’t as flashy, they take fewer three-pointers, are more deliberate on offense and rely more heavily on their defense. And the D played a huge part in their fourth quarter Game 2 comeback.
The momentum began to swing when Andrew Bogut was lifted in favor of Festus Ezeli, a less accomplished but more mobile defender. On Tuesday, Ezeli proved vital in covering Lillard in pick-and-roll situations after Bogut had struggled. Ezeli protected the rim and added scoring at the other end, making all four of his shot attempts in the opening four minutes of the fourth quarter. His last bucket was the first in a decisive 28-6 run, but his impact affected the game well before then. Not only was Lillard held scoreless in the fourth quarter, he attempted just three shots.
QUICK PICK
The last time the Warriors paid a visit to the Rose City they were ambushed 137-105 back on Feb. 19, in their worst loss of the season. The result was, and still is, a head-scratcher. But knowing that they molested Golden State on their floor has to give the Blazers some sense that this basketball series isn’t over just yet.
While Lillard and C.J. McCollum were all over the floor during the first 36 minutes, they were taken out of the equation by Golden State’s swarming defense over the final 12. If the Blazers want to win a game, the backcourt has to be a factor the entire night. Portland can’t put the ball in the hands of Mason Plumlee and Al-Farouq Aminu with the game in the balance. If they do, it’s lights out on the Blazers.
NBA Odds: Golden State 114, Portland 107
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