After allowing an average of 112 points in their past five games the Golden State Warriors faced a difficult task defensively against the Portland Trail Blazers the highest scoring team in the NBA at 109.5 points per game.
The first quarter set the tone for the Warriors defensively allowing 22 points and holding the Blazers leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge scoreless on 0-5 shooting. Stephen Curry started strong scoring 11 points and dishing out six assists and Klay Thompson added nine points. What got Portland in the game their bench, getting to the free throw line and at one point the Trail Blazers went to the line 11 times to the Warriors one attempt and Wesley Matthews scored seven of his nine points in the second.
With the first half about to end Curry drained a three with 1.1 seconds for his 23rd point of the game and only a one point deficit at halftime. Riding the momentum the Warriors defense imposed its will on the Trail Blazers during the third quarter forcing seven turnovers, allowing three field goals on 17 attempts and 12 points. David Lee got going scoring eight points and Curry finished the quarter with nine of his own and Golden State went from trailing by one to up nine. Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, Jordan Crawford and Thompson pushed the lead to 16 on a 9-2 run to open the fourth.
Lee scored on a layup off an assist from Crawford to increase the lead to 22. The offense went quiet and the Trail Blazers didn’t go quietly with Matthews leading the way with nine points and at one point got Portland within nine. Curry made back-to-back threes late and Harrison Barnes hit two free throws to end any chance of a comeback.
For Portland Matthews led the way with 21 points and five rebounds, Damian Lillard added 16 points, Aldridge scored 10 points and added 11 rebounds and Robin Lopez added 10 points and nine rebounds. Portland shot a season low 33.7 percent from the field and held to a season low of 88 points.
Leading the way for Golden State Curry who went for 38 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals, Lee finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds and Thompson added 17.