The Trail Blazers are allowing 33.3 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 47.2 rebounds per game. He had an incredible 40 points and 10 assists in the big win. Draymond will make sure of it. But Klay & Draymond also might shoot worse.
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On top of Damian Lillard’s 40 points, it was Portland’s role players who ultimately sunk the Warriors. Plumlee has been unable to discover his magic from Portland’s previous series against the Clippers, bothered by Golden State’s swarming defense on his catches and forcing ugly looks.
Green blamed himself, even though he scored 37 points and drilled eight three-pointers. They dropped a game to the Rockets in the first round, but there was no panic. Still, things weren’t looking good.
Whatever tentativeness Portland exhibited early disappeared in the second quarter. He had some big dunks and shot the ball well.
Al-Farouq Aminu had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and C.J.
Asked if he would have to monitor his minutes if Curry can play, Kerr said, “We’re hoping to have that problem”.
They’re not, and Lillard got some help to prevent that. They even tried to intentionally foul Ed Davis to get an extra possession. The lead was still in double digits going to the fourth quarter. Golden State took 17 and made 10. They go as close as 11 points but could not complete the comeback. If he does, he will more than likely have to get surgery.
The Raptors lead the series 2-1.
The supporting cast was buoyed by a few nice adjustments from Portland coach Terry Stotts, items that could carry forward in the series. You force your opponent to overcome a strategy before you give it up. When they can, Portland looks great on offense.
“That team, they had doubt”, he said of Portland. Ezeli played under six minutes in the first half on Saturday. But perhaps ironically, it was on defense that Curry – a scoring machine – was missed most.
If the Blazers were going down, they were going down with their best as Lillard, McCollum and Aminu each logged over 41 minutes. Given Curry’s current level of progress, Kerr can find the right balance between rushing him back too soon and returning the league’s most dynamic playmaker to his starting lineup by leaving Curry in a suit for Game 4 and suited up to the delight of the Oracle Arena crowd for Game 5.
“I would rather Draymond shoot than Klay Thompson”, CJ McCollum, who scored 22 points said. They combined for 72 points.
Golden State jumped to a 16-9 lead as the Blazers started four-for-16 from the field. He’s supposed to be a more polished scorer at this point in his career. However, I believe he shouldn’t play in Game 4. Andre Iguodala finished with with one point.
Portland took 29 free throws and made 23.
Curry returned to practice Friday with a brace on his knee. And his prediction the Warriors will win, whether he meant Game 4 on Monday or the series, was the kind of arrogance some take as disrespect. They can’t win a title without Stephen Curry. “(Opponents) are really focusing in on our guards.
Lowry was three-of-three from three-point range in his 15-point third quarter.
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Clyde Drexler (1992) was the last Blzer to have at least 30 points and 10 assists in a playoff game.
