Warriors, Blazers Battle In Game 3
The Golden State Warriors could be without their best player Saturday afternoon, but it might not have much of an effect on the result of their contest with the Portland Trail Blazers. The No.1 seed in the Western Conference should be able to win Game 3 and come one victory away from sweeping their first-round series in the 2017 NBA Playoffs.
The series shifts to Portland after Golden State took care of business at home. The Warriors pulled away in the fourth quarter of Game 1 to win by 12 points, and they completely dominated Game 2, winning 110-81.
Durant sat out Game 2 with a calf strain. He practiced with the team Friday, and he’s listed as questionable. The Warriors will have trouble winning a championship if Durant’s injury problems linger, but Golden State has proven that they don’t need the All-Star to beat the Blazers.
The Warriors initially struggled when Durant sprained his knee in late February, but they eventually went on a 13-game winning streak before he returned for the final three games of the regular season. With Durant on the bench in Game 2, the rest of Golden State’s players picked up the slack.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green celebrates with guard Shaun Livingston against the Portland Trail Blazers during the fourth quarter in Game 1 of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California on April 16, 2017. Photo: Reuters/Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Draymond Green has done it all for the Warriors, averaging 12.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 4.0 blocks per game. Stephen Curry is scoring 24 points per game, and six Golden State players are averaging double-digits in points this series.
Portland has one of the NBA’s best backcourts. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum combined to score 75 points in Game 1, but their defense failed them in the fourth quarter. Unless Lillard and McCollum have another stellar performance, the Blazers will have trouble pulling off the upset.
Portland ranked 21st in defensive efficiency in the regular season, and that’s a bad recipe against the NBA’s best offensive team. The Blazers are 0-6 against the Warriors this year, allowing at least 110 points in every contest.
Plenty of points are expected to be scored in Game 3, and the over/under is 217, via OddsShark. Golden State is favored by six points on the road.
Game 3 starts at 10:30 p.m. EDT Saturday night. ESPN has the TV coverage, and viewers can watch a free live stream online with WatchESPN.
Prediction: Golden State over Portland, 120-113
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