Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors loses the ball out of bounds in the first quarter of Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center on May 7, 2016 in Portland, Oregon.
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Next up, the Trail Blazers will try to keep their home winning streak going when they host the Warriors in Game Four Monday night. With the performance, Lillard became the first Trail Blazers since Clyde Drexler to score at least 40 points and hand out at least 10 assists in a playoff game.
Kerr said Curry was expected to go through pregame shootaround, after having taken another step. Another 3 pushed the lead to 22-16 and Thompson led all scorers after the first quarter with 18 points.
They did not let up in the second half, extending their lead to 20 big points, 105-85, at the 7:20 mark of the fourth quarter. Al-Farouq Aminu benefited from his defender pulling towards Lillard, hitting two spot-up three-pointers, attacking closeouts out of pick and pops, and getting into the seams of the defense for 12 second half points. That could be a bit of gamesmanship, the Warriors trying to limit expectations (and perhaps boost the Trail Blazers’ confidence) right up until the time Curry jogs onto the court in uniform.
“I think we played a lot smarter down the stretch than we did the last game, and we challenged them”, Lillard said (via ESPN).
Lillard’s dominant performance stands out as a signature game for a player who had been up-and-down in his first eight playoff appearances this season. With the loss, a huge question comes up, should the Warriors play Stephen Curry in Game 4?
But the Blazers posed problems inside and outside for the Warriors, whose ability to crank up their defensive intensity at will was decisive in Games 1 and 2.
Up 13 at the start of the fourth, Portland was in a situation similar to the one they found themselves in going into the fourth quarter on Tuesday, albeit in Oakland, the end result being a double-digit loss. Aminu has really stepped it up in these past nine games for the Blazers-him exceeding expectations was not something Portland (or their foes) were expecting.
Lillard, who was 14-for-27 from the field, scored 25 points in the first half and 10 in the fourth quarter.
Draymond Green had 37 points, and Klay Thompson added 35 for the Warriors, They had won four straight against the Blazers. The NBA MVP said last week that he was hoping to return to play in Game 3 against Portland, but the Warriors have been cautious with their star player, limiting him to drills and conditioning.
In short, Green sees Portland as a little brother, an opponent so beatable that the All-Star forward didn’t hesitate in predicting a Game 4 victory.
The Warriors might decide he wants Curry to get more work in. He stepped it up further on Sunday with a three-on-three contest in which Golden State backup Ian Clark defended him.
Even if, at times, it’s from the other team. I would just say he’s doubtful for tomorrow. “I’ll be better. We’ll win”.
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“We got outplayed, outhustled”, Kerr said. It was Curry’s gravity that helped nurture Green’s ability to play in space, to the point that it’s now self-sustaining. Game 4 takes place Monday night in Portland. If he does, he will more than likely have to get surgery.
