Recap: Blazers Overwhelmed By Shorthanded Warriors 125-97

Despite missing a number of its stars, the Golden State Warriors still proved too much to handle as Portland Trail Blazers fell on 125-97 on the road in Oakland.

For about 12 minutes Portland looked like it might have been able to take advantage of the absence of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, who are both missing extended time due to injury, but a disastrous second quarter saw the Warriors more than double-up the Blazers 35-17, digging them into an insurmountable hole.

With the loss, Portland wraps up a six-game road trip just 2-4, and perhaps more discouraging, with two straight non-competitive defeats. A bounceback win, .500 split and turkey dinner at Damian Lillard’s house would have probably been enough for the Blazers to wash its hands of the past couple weeks and call it good, but now the team will return home just 12-7 overall and in sudden need to get things back on track.

Box Score

Random thoughts and takeaways:

Strength in very specific numbers. Down two All-World caliber players in Curry and Green, it sure must be nice to still have two left over in Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. The two torched Portland from deep all night long, combining for 63 points and personally extinguishing virtually any Blazer attempt at a comeback.

Blame it on the turkey. The Blazers got another no-show from its bench in this one, only managing to squeeze a measly 19 points out of the second unit, much of which after the outcome had already been decided. Portland’s starters weren’t exceptional, but this is precisely the type of night where a little pick-me-up could have kept game within reach. And against a depleted Golden State squad that doesn’t necessarily count depth as one of its strengths, it was a matchup that should have gone in the Blazers’ favor.

Up Next

The Blazers will finally return home to the Moda Center to take on the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday night at 7 p.m.