Warriors forge 3-way tie for 8th in West minus Klay, Draymond
Stephen Curry carries the load in a crucial win as the Warriors continue to fight for a higher play-in seeding with just two regular-season games left
Stephen Curry recorded 22 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds to help the Golden State Warriors post a 100-92 victory over the host Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night, April 11 (Friday, April 12, Manila time).
The victory keeps the Warriors alive for a spot in the No. 7 vs No. 8 game in the Western Conference play-in round. Golden State, the Sacramento Kings, and the Los Angeles Lakers all have the same record at 45-35 with two regular-season games left.
Golden State standouts Klay Thompson and Draymond Green both missed the contest due to right knee injuries.
Jonathan Kuminga scored 19 points and Andrew Wiggins added 15 as Golden State won for the ninth time in 10 games. Rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis added 10 points, 8 rebounds, and tied his career high of 4 blocked shots.
Deandre Ayton registered 25 points and 11 rebounds and Scoot Henderson had 18 points and 12 assists for Portland (21-59), which lost for the 13th time in the past 15 games. Jabari Walker added 17 points and 16 rebounds, and Kris Murray scored 14 points.
Portland shot 36.1% from the field, including a meager 8-of-34 (23.5 percent) from three-point range. Henderson committed 9 turnovers, giving him 17 over the past two games.
Kevon Looney collected 11 rebounds for Golden State, which shot 46.8% from the field and 12-of-35 (34.3%) from three-point range. The Warriors swept the four-game season series with Portland and have won 10 of the past 11 meetings.
The Trail Blazers led 85-79 after a three-pointer by Murray with 9:09 left in the game before going 6:37 without a field goal.
Golden State responded with a 16-1 run. Curry tied the score at 86 by sinking a 17-footer with 6:25 remaining, and Looney split two free throws to give the Warriors the lead with 5:06 left.
Curry knocked down a three-pointer to make it 90-86 with 4:42 to play and fed Looney for a layup to make it a six-point margin with 3:26 remaining. Brandin Podziemski converted a three-point play to increase the lead to 95-86 with 3:03 left.
Ayton’s basket with 2:32 to go ended Portland’s field-goal drought after nine consecutive misses.
Chris Paul’s trey made it 100-90 with 1:04 remaining as Golden State closed it out.
Curry and Kuminga scored 11 points apiece as Golden State led 49-46 at the break. Ayton had 15 in the half for Portland.
The Warriors held a 75-74 edge entering the fourth quarter. – Rappler.com