It was a do or die game four for the Portland Trailblazers. Having put themselves in the dreadful 0-3 hole, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum were both going to need other-worldly performances to beat the Warriors. The Trailblazers had a hard time dealing with the Warriors in game three, but now Kevin Durant returned to the lineup after missing time due to a calf injury.
Durant didn't play much, but he made his presence felt throughout the game. Steph Curry had one of those performances from three, as he dominated the Trailblazers. The Warriors jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, demolishing Portland and pulling out the brooms for the sweep.
Starting Hot
The Warriors started on fire, and that is an understatement. They jumped out to an early 22-3 lead in the first quarter. The Trailblazers had no answers for them, except call timeouts and hoped they cool off. The Warriors ended up scoring 45 points in the first quarter, putting the game at a 20-point deficit early. Golden State shot 15-24 from the field in that first frame, including an exceptional 8-11 from downtown.
Their 45 point quarter tied an NBA playoff record for most points in a quarter. Steph Curry got it going early, having 12 points at the end of the first, and Splash Bro Klay Thompson had 11. Seven different Warriors players scored in that first period, showing that they still have strength in numbers.
Steph the Chef
Steph Curry was due for one of those fantastic performances, and today he came through. Curry was sensational, heaving up shots that would cause other NBA players to be put on the bench. The exception is that Curry's shots go in the basket. Curry's stat line was close to getting a triple-double, as he finished with 37 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds.
He shot 12-20 from the field and a ridiculous 7-11 from three-point land.
Steph Curry is used to putting up performances like this, but this was a performance with KD in the lineup. The two-time MVP showed everyone that even with another MVP in the lineup, he can still flex his muscles if he is feeling it on the right night.
Curry's night will end up on Sportscenter, and some of his shots will most likely end up on the top ten. Curry put the exclamation point on what was a dominant series for Golden State.
The Trailblazers were victim to the Warriors high powered offense and now join the Pacers as another team swept this postseason. Damian Lillard put up 34, but he can't carry the Trailblazers all the time. The Warriors look like a team that is starting to peak, and that is a scary sign for the playoff teams in the Western Conference.
They will have extra time to get Kevin Durant healthy and hopefully Steve Kerr can return to the sideline, as he was suffering from complication from his back surgery in 2015. The Warriors will play the winner of the Jazz and Clippers series.